The Union Pines Vikings successfully defended their 2024 championship as they beat Bishop McGuinness 18-8 on Friday afternoon at the Durham County Memorial Stadium in the 2025 North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 1A/2A/3A Women’s Lacrosse Championship.
The Vikings also beat the Villains in the 2024 championship.
The Vikings and Villains were tied at 3-3 at the end of the first period, but the Vikings pulled away in the second. Ellie Powell scored three times and assisted on two other goals in the second to push the Union Pines lead to 10-3 at halftime.
Powell, named the Most Valuable Player for the game, added two more goals to start the third quarter. The Vikings led 15-3 after Rachel Adams’ goal with 3:43 left in the third quarter, capping a 12-0 run.
Bishop McGuinness’s Kathleen Dennen and Morgan Aho scored the final five goals for the Villains as they outscored Union Pines 5-3 once the run ended, but they could not overcome the deficit. Dennen finished the game with five goals and an assist, while Aho found the net twice.
Powell scored seven goals for Union Pines and added two assists. Anna Gaab and Addison Volitis each added three goals.
Union Pines finished the year 14-6 overall, and they are now 2-0 all-time in NCHSAA Championship matches. Bishop McGuinness ended the season 20-4 and is now 0-3 in Championship matches.
“The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing outstanding sportsmanship in each of our State Championship events,” said the NCHSAA in a press release. “The Association has partnered with the North Carolina Farm Bureau to award a pair of Sportsmanship Awards at each championship event, recognizing players who have demonstrated the ideals of outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the 2024-25 season. The winners of the 1A/2A/3A Women’s Lacrosse Sportsmanship Awards are Marian Waterman from Bishop McGuinness and Anna Gaab from Union Pines.”
Feature photo: Union Pines Women’s Lacrosse Championship team/Photo via Union Pines Booster Club’s Facebook page.
Contributed article.
