The final whistle at the state championship echoed a mixture of triumph and heartbreak for Hibriten’s girls soccer team, who fell 1-0 to Carrboro in a tightly contested match.
Although the scoreboard favored Carrboro, the game was defined by a dominant possession game, with the North Carolina side controlling 61 percent of the ball and generating 21 shots throughout the contest.
The decisive moment arrived in the second half when Amaliie Reyes slipped a perfectly placed pass to Ali Stuntebeck, whose strike found the back of the net to secure the lone goal of the game.
Between the posts, Hibriten goalkeeper Sydney Watkins turned in a stellar performance, making eight saves that kept the team within striking distance despite the relentless pressure.
Carrboro’s attacking duo of Ali Stuntebeck and Quinn Benedick were relentless, each recording six shots, with Stuntebeck also contributing an assist and three shots on goal.
Hibriten’s defensive line, anchored by Ama Higgs, Sarah Spann, Nivea Dula, Addison Brookshire, Kamila Hernandez-Parra and Bryana Giron, limited the opposition’s chances and preserved the narrow deficit.
A Season to Remember
The loss capped a historic season in which Hibriten finished as the NCHSAA 4A Western Regional Champions with a record of 21-3-3, a milestone that has already sparked celebration across the community.