Senior all-state forward Matt Risher scored in the first minute of sudden death overtime to lift Waxhaw Marvin Ridge to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Chapel Hill in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A men’s soccer championship Saturday afternoon at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Chapel Hill, which finished 19-8-1, had an unusual trip to the championship match, its first since 1983. The Tigers battled Jacksonville in the Eastern Regional final on Wednesday night, but after 80 minutes in steady rain the officials deemed the field to be unplayable. Chapel Hill had to go back to Onslow County Friday night to complete the game with the previously unbeaten Cardinals. The Tigers finished the contest with a 2-1 overtime victory to advance to Saturday’s state final.