H.S. ROUNDUP: Patton, NCSSM-Morganton, Draughn boys soccer make playoffs
CHAPEL HILL — Three high school boys soccer teams made the cut as the NCHSAA released its state playoffs brackets on Thursday.
Patton has reached the postseason in 2A while NCSSM-Morganton and Draughn will participate in the 1A playoffs.
The Panthers (16-4-3), who finished second in the Mountain Foothills 7 1A/2A Conference, were awarded the No. 15 West seed in the NCHSAA 2A bracket. PHS will No. 18 West seed Lincoln Charter (10-8-3), which finished fifth in the Catawba Shores 1A/2A Conference, in the first round on Saturday in Morganton.
The winner of the contest will advance to face either No. 2 West seed Brevard (17-3-2) or No. 31 West seed Providence Grove (11-12-1) in the second round on Tuesday. The Blue Devils won the MF7, tying Patton 3-3 on Oct. 21 in Morganton before winning 2-1 on Monday in Brevard.
The Dragons (7-6-1), the third-place team out of the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference, earned the No. 26 West seed in the NCHSAA 1A playoffs. NCSSM-Morganton will visit No. 7 West seed Elkin (14-6-2), the Northwest 1A Conference champions, in the first round on Saturday. The winner will take on either No. 10 West seed Thomasville (10-10-2) or No. 23 West seed Jackson Day (8-8) in Tuesday's second round.
The Wildcats (4-6-1), who were fifth in the WHC, claimed the No. 30 West seed in the 1A bracket. DHS will visit No. 3 West seed Avery County (8-2-1), the league's runner-up, in the first round in Newland on Saturday. Draughn suffered a road loss to the Vikings, 4-0, in the regular season. Saturday's winner will advance to challenge either No. 14 West seed Bishop McGuinness (13-4-4) or No. 19 West seed Cornerstone Charter (9-8-1) on Tuesday in the second round.
NCSSM-Morganton 1, Madison 0
The Dragons (7-6-1, 4-4-1 WHC) reached .500 in conference play with a shutout win to end the regular season on the road in Marshall on Wednesday, scoring the contest's lone goal in the first half.
Jai Yalla scored the goal for NCSSM-Morganton off an assist from Ford Butner.
East Burke 1, West Lincoln 1
The Cavaliers (1-18-2, 0-13-1 Catawba Valley 2A Conf.) ended their season with a conference tie at home in Icard on Wednesday, trailing 1-0 at halftime before evening things up with a second-half goal.
Daniel Ambrocio had that lone score for EBHS, using an assist from Tucker Chapman.
Jaydon Fair recorded five saves in goal for EB in the stalemate.
Newton-Conover 27, East Burke 21
The Cavaliers (2-7, 1-5 CVAC) lost a conference game in a shootout on the road in Newton on Tuesday evening.
EBHS took a 21-14 lead in the third quarter, but the Red Devils tied things up with 8:59 left to play and grabbed the lead with 1:38 left in the contest, holding on to win.
The teams battled to a 14-14 halftime tie, with East Burke's touchdowns coming on rushes by Carter Bennett and Darren Hammons.
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