Leonard's goal gives Charlotte Catholic a 1A-6A boys lacrosse title over Middle Creek

HICKORY, N.C. — New classifications, new opportunities.

Middle Creek High School and Charlotte Catholic High School’s boys lacrosse programs have been two of North Carolina’s best, but entering Friday’s 1A-6A state championship game, neither had won the big one since 2022.

With the NCHSAA’s expansion to eight classifications from four, and thus three separate playoff brackets for lacrosse instead of two, a clear lane opened up for both programs.

Charlotte Catholic proved victorious with a 9-8 victory in overtime. It is the Cougars’ second state championship, their first in 12 years.

• View Photos: Middle Creek vs. Charlotte Catholic (May 29, 2026). HSOT Insiders can download championship photos for free. Here's how.

The meeting, which was anticipated by both programs throughout the season, proved to be a defensive showcase. The factions played sound coverage, disciplined in their assignments.

For the third time of the day at Lenoir-Rhyne’s Mortez Stadium, the championship game went to overtime.

A minute and 20 seconds into overtime, game MVP Jason Leonard made the shot of the night to lift the Cougars to victory.

Entering the fourth quarter, the game was tied at four all. Charlotte Catholic had an extremely close shot attempt as the time wound down.

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The scoring drought for both teams was broken by Catholic junior John Wielechowski, who wrapped around the goal, shot, and scored from his left side. Catholic took a 5-4 lead with ten minutes to go. A few minutes later, Jason Leonard padded the lead with a rapid make.

The Cougars missed on two tries proximate to the goal around the five-minute mark, which kept Middle Creek in contention momentarily. That was until Leonard scored once again to make it a 7-4 game with 4:19 left.

Middle Creek received a jolt of life via two Reed Strack goals in 20 seconds. The Mustangs cut the Cougars’ lead to 7-6 with 3:10 remaining.

The refs made a stick check for a Charlotte Catholic player with 2:26 left, and they determined they needed to throw the flag.

Off the penalty, Reed Stack fired one into the net to tie the game at seven with 1:57 left.

Undeterred by the momentum shift and the absence of a player, Catholic’s James Hedley scored to regain the lead at 8-7 with 1:43 left.

Catholic was called for another penalty, leaving the squad without two players on the field.

Reed Stack took advantage of the double penalties and scored with 1:12 remaining to tie the game at eight.

After that, neither team was able to score before the end of regulation.

Charlotte Catholic (22-3 overall) previously won the 4A state championship in 2014 and finished as a state runner-up in 2015 and 2023.

Middle Creek entered as a two-time state champion. The Mustangs won the 2017 4A state championship and the 2022 4A state championship. Middle Creek also finished as a state runner-up in 2018.

The Mustangs wrapped up their season with a 24-5 overall record.

Box Score

1st Quarter

• 8:48 - CC goal by Emmett Drensek - CC 1, MC 0
• 8:27 - CC goal by James Hedley - CC 2, MC 0
• 5:35 - MC goal by Reed Stack - CC 2, MC 1
• 1:15 - MC goal by Brett Stack - CC 2, MC 2

2nd Quarter

• 5:46 - CC goal Jason Leonard - CC 3, MC 2
• 2:56 - MC goal by Reed Stacl - CC 3, MC 3
• 1:18 - MC goal Brett Stack - MC 4, CC 3

3rd Quarter

• 9:06 - CC goal #8 Jason Leonard - MC 4, CC 4

4th Quarter

• 10:03 - CC goal by John Wielechowski - CC 5, MC 4
• 7:12 - CC goal by Jason Leonard - CC 6, MC 4
• 4:19 - CC goal by Jason Leonard - CC 7, MC 4
• 3:31 - MC goal by Reed Stack - CC 7, MC 5
• 3:10 - MC goal by Reed Stack - CC 7, MC 6
• 2:26 - MC goal by Reed Stack - CC 7, MC 7
• 1:43 - CC goal by James Hedley - CC 8, MC 7
• 1:12 - MC goal by Reed Stack - CC 8, MC 8

Overtime

• 3:39 - CC goal by Jason Leonard - CC 9, MC 8

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