Myers Park Girls Soccer Clinches League Title Share by Defeating South Meck

Now the waiting begins for the high school girls’ soccer teams from Ardrey Kell, Myers Park and South Mecklenburg.

Following Kell’s decisive 9-0 win against Palisades, Myers Park caused a minor surprise with a 2-1 triumph at South Mecklenburg on Tuesday evening, resulting in all three teams being tied with 10-2 records in the SoMeck 4A Conference.

As the N.C. High School Athletic Association determines the playoff seedings later this week, league officials from SoMeck will need to conduct a draw to establish the order for their conference’s top three playoff positions.

"I hope there were more tiebreaker criteria such as goals scored and conceded among the equal teams, but sadly it comes down to a random draw," remarked veteran Myers Park coach Bucky McCarley.

On Tuesday, McCarley’s squad secured their spot for a possible top seed by defeating South Mecklenburg, thus avenging their previous 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Sabres on April 3rd.

On Tuesday, Myers Park found themselves trailing in terms of shots as South Mecklenburg managed to take five of the initial six attempts. Despite being outshot 14-10 overall, Sophia Pinkney scored a crucial goal in the 37th minute towards the end of the first half. This goal allowed the Mustangs to seize control, maintaining their advantage for the remainder of the game.

Amaya Falzarano, the leading goalscorer, increased Myers Park's lead to 2-0 just two minutes into the second half. The Mustangs then had to defend vigorously against a intense assault from South Mecklenburg.

During the final 15 minutes, Ella Canty scored for the Sabres, and they managed five near-range attempts (excluding four misses during two set-piece opportunities). Additionally, they secured one corner kick and unleashed a powerful 40-yard shot following a foul against Myers Park right at the end of the game.

For South Mecklenburg, if it doesn’t host a state playoff game, the loss would mark the end of an era at the school’s onsite stadium that opened for football in 1981 and will be under renovated for up to two years.

“It’s not great,” Sabres coach Bryan Murray said of the situation. “I just hate it for the seniors. I’m just hoping we get lucky in the draw.”

For their forthcoming football and soccer matches at home, South Mecklenburg will utilize the former Waddell High stadium along with other nearby playing fields.

Three who made a difference

Amaya Falzarano, Myers Park: She scored her team-high 27th goal of the season.

Lila Yingling, Myers Park: The goalkeeper made 10 saves out of the 14 shots taken by South Mecklenburg.

Ella Canty, South Mecklenburg: The Buffalo Bills' veteran narrowed the gap to just one goal with 15 minutes remaining in Tuesday’s match.

Notable

▪ Myers Park won its 18th conference title — and first since 2021. The Mustangs won their first league title in 1986 — in the first year Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools began fielding girls soccer teams.

▪ South Mecklenburg’s conference title is its seventh, and also its first since 2021.

▪ Both teams extend long streaks of making postseason play; Myers Park will be making its 19th straight playoff appearance and South Mecklenburg its 17th straight.

They said it

“It’s an important win for a variety of reasons. It’s the last game of the regular season, and you always want to go to the playoffs after a win. It’s an away game at a rival, and if they win, they get the conference title by themselves, and if we win, we tie for the conference title.” - Myers Park coach Bucky McCarley

LINESCORE

Myers Park 1 1 - 2

South Mecklenburg 0 1 - 1

Scoring: MP- Goals: Sophia Pinkney, Amaya Falzarano Assists: Laine Connell, Abby Petty; Target for SM: Ella Canty.