SPC has Wildcats' number

For the second consecutive year, Lake Norman's girls soccer team saw another stellar season end in the quarterfinals of the 3A state playoffs.

Porter Ridge parlayed a late first-half goal into a 1-0 victory on Saturday night. It eliminated Lake Norman (20-2-3) and propelled the Pirates (22-3-2) on to the Western Regional final, where they will play Charlotte Catholic for a berth in the state final.

"I think we are a team that had the potential to play with anybody in the state," said Wildcats coach Dane Perry, who is leaving Lake Norman at the end of the year to coach and teach at newly-built Mallard Creek High School in Huntersville.

"Would liked to have gotten a shot at Catholic or (Jacksonville) White Oak or (Burlington) Williams, or somebody like that, but you've got to get through the quarterfinals before you can look at those."

Getting through the South Piedmont Conference has been the real bugaboo. Conference champion Porter Ridge became the third SPC team in five years to oust North Piedmont Conference champion Lake Norman from the playoffs.

The Wildcats are 0-3 in postseason games pitting them against SPC opponents.

Talk about a thorn in the side. Yikes.

If Lake Norman never sees another SPC team in the playoffs it will be too soon.