Avery will take on 14-2-2 Southwest Onslow at the Curtis and Jackie Dail Soccer Stadium at the Track Facility at NC State University in Raleigh. Game time is yet to be determined, as conflicts with other championship classifications have to be worked out. As soon as we get a definitive time, we will publish and send that along. This will mark Avery's second venture into a state championship match, as the Avery wrestling team in the early 90s wrestled Dixon High School for a dual team state championship.And now.... one match to go!
UPDATE #10 (8:40 PM) -- Avery defeats Lake Norman Charter High School 3-0 AND WILL PLAY NEXT SATURDAY IN RALEIGH FOR A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!! A great effort on offense and defense throughout the match and this postseason! Congratulations to the ladies, and we'll see you next weekend at the state title game!
UPDATE #9 (8:33 PM) GOAL AVERY in the 74th minute. Mary Chesnut Smith gets a long ball sent from Emily Banner, averts the goalkeeper who had pulled away from goal to get the ball, and pealed off a shot that found the empty net with 6:14 to play in the match. Avery leads 3-0!
UPDATE #8: (8:32 PM) -- Seven minutes from a state title berth. Avery has played one of its best defensive matches of the season and Lake Norman has been frustrated and neutralized.
UPDATE #7 (8:14 PM) -- Avery continues to turn away any advance by Lake Norman Charter as they continue to maintain a 2-0 lead with 23 minutes left in the match.
UPDATE #6 (7:59 PM)-- GOAL AVERY! Elyse Perry scores on an assist from Cassie Bumgarner to help the Big Red to a 2-0 lead on Lake Norman Charter. Continued strong defense from the Lady Vikings may allow this team to punch its ticket to Raleigh's Curtis and Jackie Dail Soccer Stadium at NC State next Saturday for the 1A girls soccer state championship against Southwest Onslow.
UPDATE #5 (7:48 PM) -- We are at the half and the Lady Vikings lead Lake Norman Charter High School 1-0 on the Mary Chesnut Smith goal in the 36th minute from 30 yards out. Avery had several opportunities to score but were unable to cash in on a good Knights defense. Avery's defense has been up to the task through 40 minutes, as keeper Mercedes Bentley has a clean sheet thus far.
UPDATE #4 (7:44 PM) -- GOAL AVERY!! Mary Chesnut Smith dribbles by three separate Lake Norman players, sets up at the 20 yard line and blasts a shot past the keeper for Avery to draw first blood in the 36th minute. Lady Vikings lead 1-0 over Lake Norman Charter!
UPDATE #3 (7:31 PM) - Avery has had a couple of runs at the net and Lake Norman has also had a corner, but neither team has been able to break through. It has been a physical affair thus far, as Mary Chesnut Smith, who was shaken up earlier in the match, has been played very aggressively by the Knights. A Lake Norman direct kick sails wide and the match stays 0-0 with 7:30 left in the half.
UPDATE #2 (7:20 PM) - Mary Chesnut Smith returns to the lineup and takes a direct kick that sails just over the crossbar. Still scoreless between Avery and Lake Norman Charter.
UPDATE #1 (6:55 PM) - Teams are finishing pre-game warmups and we're getting ready for action in this semifinal matchup. Kickoff is coming within minutes!
The Avery Lady Vikings are preparing to host the Lake Norman Charter Knights at 7 p.m. this evening for the right to play for a state championship in women's soccer next week.
Avery comes off a 3-0 shutout of North Moore, while Lake Norman Charter defeated Bishop McGuinness 1-0 last Wednesday night.
Lake Norman has won 18 games this season, Avery is a 19-game winner, and the Lady Vikings hope that this storybook season can continue with a journey to the NCHSAA 1A girls soccer championship game.
Tonight's winner will face SW Onslow, who defeated Raleigh Charter on Friday night to advance to Saturday's championship match at NC State University.
We'll be providing updates throughout the game from the stadium as Avery looks for win #20. Best of luck to the Lady Vikings!
