A Legacy Reinforced
Charlotte Catholic High School’s girls soccer team captured the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 6A championship on Thursday, edging Jacksonville 1-0 in a tightly contested final held in Durham.
The decisive moment arrived in the 11th minute when Savanna Leckner slipped a low strike past Jacksonville’s goalkeeper Hailey Dufore, a goal that proved enough to secure the title.
From the outset, the Crusaders controlled play, holding the ball for roughly 70 percent of the opening half and pressuring the opposing defense relentlessly.
Dufore’s heroics kept the match within reach, producing several key saves, but the East regional champions could not find an equalizer, leaving the score locked at 1-0.
Before kickoff, each squad had named a Sportsmanship Award winner: Caidy Nelson represented Jacksonville, while Ellie Hussey received the honor for Charlotte Catholic.
This victory marks the eighth time the Crusaders have contested the state final, having previously lifted the trophy in 2002, 2003 and 2011, underscoring a legacy of excellence in North Carolina soccer.