HobbsDailyReport.com
Lake Norman Charter stayed unbeaten, playing in the rain on Wednesday night, and is headed to the fourth round of the state 2A girls’ soccer playoffs.
The second-seeded Knights (20-0-1) topped visiting No. 10 seed West Davidson 4-0 to earn another home match.
On Saturday at 4 p.m. at Bradford Park, Lake Norman Charter battles No. 3 Hendersonville (17-1-1) in the fourth round in a rematch of a postseason meeting last season.
West Davidson finished 18-5-0.
Saturday’s winner reaches the West 2A title match with the other teams still alive No. 4 Forbush (23-2-1) and No. 1 Salisbury (24-0-0) after wins, respectively, 5-0 over Hibriten and 2-0 over Black Mountain Owen.
Forbush visits Salisbury for a fourth-round match.
Aden Yates scored twice and had an assist on Wednesday night to lead the Knights while teammates Olivia Masterton and Olivia Tanaka each added a goal.
Olivia Haraldsson and Carsyn Yates each had an assist for the Knights, whose Kaela Rasenberger made one save.
Ayden Yates’ first goal came off a through pass from Haraldsson. The second goal by Ayden Yates came via an assist by Carsyn Yates.
Masterton delivered her fifth corner kick score of the season just before halftime to put the Knights up 3-0.
Lake Norman Charter’s other goal was via a rebound by Tanaka.
The Knights had 32 shots and West Davidson got only one long range shot off.
Haley Lowe made nine saves for the Dragons.
SOFTBALL
Bears play Thursday night
Bunker Hill’s fourth-round 2A softball game against top-seeded West Stanly (25-1) is scheduled Thursday at 7 p.m. in Oakboro.
The Bears are 15-6 and a No. 13 seed and this deep into the state bracket for the first time in school history.
If the Bears win, they’ll face No. 3 Fred T. Foard (20-3) or No. 2 Franklin (21-0) in a best-of-3 series for the West 2A title.
Foard at home Friday night
Third-seeded Fred T. Foard (20-3) visits No. 2 Franklin (21-0) on Friday at 6 p.m. for a fourth-round game in 2A.
The Tigers need a win to reach a best-of-3 series for the West 2A title next week, where they would face No. 13 Bunker Hill or No. 1 West Stanly.
Cougars welcome Cox Mill
Third-seeded Alexander Central (23-5) is at home Friday at 6 p.m., facing No. 10 Cox Mill (17-8) in a fourth-round 3A game.
If the Cougars win, they’ll play a best-of-3 series for the West 3A title next week, facing No. 8 Marvin Ridge (21-4) or No. 4 Carson (19-6).
Blue Devils visit Spartans
Third-seeded Mooresville (22-4) will play at No. 2 South Caldwell (25-2) in a fourth-round 4A game that must be played by Friday.
The game is listed on MaxPreps for a 7 p.m. start in Hudson.
The winner goes to a best-of-3 series next week, with No. 1 Richmond County (23-3) still alive in the opposite bracket as well as No. 13 Hickory Ridge (17-5) and No. 5 Providence (22-3).
BASEBALL
Knights go for 18th straight
North Lincoln (24-2, No. 1 seed), the only baseball team left alive from the South Fork 2A, Northwestern Foothills 2A or Northwestern 3A-4A, is at home Friday at 6 p.m. in a fourth-round 2A game against No. 4 Smoky Mountain (21-3).
The Knights have won 17 straight and haven’t lost since falling 6-5 at Bandys on March 27.
A victory on Friday would move North Lincoln into a best-of-3 series for the West 2A title next week.
No. 10 Ledford (25-3) defeated No. 2 R-S Central (23-4) on the road Wednesday night, 2-1, to move opposite No. 3 North Davidson (22-4) in the West bracket. The Panthers travel to play the Black Knights on Friday night (7 p.m.).