Mitch Stone - Reporter@HighlandsNews.com
Summit Charter varsity girls soccer made history Wednesday, May 20, earning a trip to the state championship after a 4-1 win over The North Carolina Leadership Academy in the semifinals of the NCHSAA 1A playoffs. It marks the first time a girls soccer team from the Plateau has advanced to a state championship and the first time in Summit Charter history that a sports team has reached that stage—excluding individual appearances.
“Clinching the championship berth in our last home game, which was also the last day of school, was such a special occasion,” said Head Coach Scott Whitman. “We set the lofty goal of a state championship on our very first day of practice, and the girls put in the work all season long to get where we are. Other than advancing, my favorite highlight was seeing both of my seniors score in their last ever game on Summit's field. Truly a special day, but we still have work to do.”
The action kicked off within the opening seconds as Victoria Clement received a long ball over the backline and attacked the goal, slipping the ball through the keeper’s legs before the keeper recovered and dived to make the save.
In the 11th minute, Clement successfully found the net with a long-distance free kick that deflected off the wall and over the keeper’s head to make it 1-0. Summit fans showed out in full-force, ringing cowbells and waving American flags after the goal.
Following the goal, the momentum briefly shifted, with TNCLA generating several opportunities, though their shots went comfortably saved by goalkeeper Olivia Reeves. Clement struck again in the 27th minute, this time turning past a defender, sending her the wrong way, and ripping a powerful strike into the right corner to double the lead. The scoring didn’t stop there, as the Lady Bears added a third before the halftime whistle. Defender Lydia Hughes played a perfect long ball from the back that sailed over the backline and found Kayleigh Bonner, who bodied her way to the ball and slipped it past the keeper.
TNCLA’s Anna Suriano grabbed one back in the first five minutes of the second half, battling off multiple Summit defenders and tucking the ball past Reeves to make it 3-1
With 26 minutes remaining, Bailey Robinson whipped it in a low cross that found Sydney Sinclair at the back post, where she tapped it in to extend the lead to 3. For the remainder of the match, Summit Charter defended strongly,
disrupting TNCLA’s buildup play while distributing the ball forward to attacking threats like Clement and Bonner. As the final whistle sounded, the crowd and team erupted in celebration as the 2026 Summit Charter varsity girls soccer team earned its first-ever appearance in a state championship.
“I knew the girls were capable of winning against TNCLA, but we needed every player to play to their full potential. Our team has such a strong competitive spirit that really shows up best when they are challenged,” said Whitman. “I reminded the team that TNCLA is a worthy opponent and we needed to start the game at that high level, and the girls delivered. The off-the-ball effort and communication were key.”