Swansboro unable to complete rally, falls to Reynolds in state soccer final

The Pirates couldn’t complete the rally after falling behind two goals in the first half as Swansboro fell 2-1 to the Rockets on Saturday in the NCHSAA 3-A girls’ soccer championship game at Dail Soccer Field at N.C.

Swansboro (25-3) was in pursuit of its fifth state title in program history and first in 3-A after moving up a classification last year, but it was A.C.

The Pirates trailed 2-0 behind first-half goals by juniors Christina Shimshock and Kaley Cross.

However, Swansboro gained the momentum heading into halftime as junior Tylor Ring scored with 18 seconds left in the first half to cut the Rockets’ lead in half.

Ring scored after her 25-yard shot from the right side was tipped by senior goalkeeper Dallas Warren, who emerged as the title game’s most valuable player.

However, the Pirates couldn’t get any closer as the Rockets kept Swansboro from finding much possession inside the 18-yard line.

Shimshock scored 9:35 into the match after junior defender Ashlyn Perkins delivered a 35-yard direct kick toward the goal.

Swansboro goalkeeper Gia McAllister blocked the shot before Shimshock won a scramble for the ball and finished it from near the goal line.

Cross then extended Reynolds’ lead to 2-0 with 18:40 left until halftime with a goal following another free kick by Perkins.

After the 40-yard free kick was played to inside the 18, the ball was bounced to Cross, who then took a 30-yard shot from the right side.