Pungo falls in TIC soccer final; Lawrence takes softball, baseball titles

Published 12:21 pm Saturday, May 3, 2025

By Jason O. Boyd

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The Pungo Christian Academy girls soccer team had Lawrence Academy right where it wanted during the first half of Wednesday’s Tarheel Independent Conference tournament final.

Then came the second half.

The Raiders held a 1-0 halftime lead, but the Warriors got four second-half goals, three in less than 10 minutes, to win 4-2 in Belhaven. Despite the loss, both teams will play in the NC Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1A state playoffs. Brackets will be announced on the PCA Facebook page Sunday evening.

Lexy Tate got Pungo’s first goal in the ninth minute when she put a shot over the Lawrence keeper’s head. It set off a celebration for the Raiders and served as fodder for a good defensive performance to take the lead into halftime.

“I mean, our strategy early on, we wanted to be defensive heavy early and play the wind to our advantage,” said PCA coach Logan Van Staalduinen, who was named the league’s coach of the year. “Luckily, we got the side at the wind was at our back, so we felt like we could have stronger runs.

“That resulted in a number of good opportunities on goal for us. Thankfully, we got one through. And going into halftime, we felt pretty good being up 1-0.”

Shelby Brabble scored three minutes into the second half to allow Lawrence to knot it at 1-1. Just three minutes later, Autumn Williford got the first of her two goals to put the Warriors ahead, 2-1.

The Raiders got the equalizer in the 50th minute when McKinlee Cox got a penalty kick and booted it into the left high side of the net, knotting the contest at 2-2.

Lawrence got its own penalty kick, and Lilli Williams converted minutes later to give the Warriors the lead for good at 3-2.

“We felt like they hadn’t played from behind much all year,” Van Staalduinen said. “In the heat, it’s the hottest game we’ve played all year, we felt like we were in good shape.

They went out and proved why they’re the number one team in the conference and are going to be a top-five seed in the state playoffs next week. They’ve got a lot of girls that can move.”

Tate was among the individual athletes to receive postseason honors. Those postseason awards can be found on the Pungo Christian Academy’s Facebook page.

REST OF TIC TOURNAMENT

Pungo Christian’s softball team advanced to the finals but lost against Lawrence Academy. The Raiders’ baseball team fell to Ridgecroft in Wednesday’s semifinals. Lawrence Academy went on to win the tournament title there also.

All of the tournament games were hosted by PCA in Belhaven.

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