The Nation Ford Falcons girls’ lacrosse team got some revenge on rival Catawba Ridge after falling to them earlier in the season picking up a win to resume the 2026 season.
The Falcons beat the Copperheads 12-10 to improve to 10-3 overall and 4-2 in Region 3-5A, while Catawba Ridge fell to 3-9 overall and 2-4 in the region. The Copperheads beat Nation Ford 16-10 on March 26, but Senior Night for the Falcons on Monday, April 13 provided some extra pop for Nation Ford.
“Senior night helps because it gives us extra motivation,” said Nation Ford head coach Greg Allen. “They knew tonight was a chance. They played a great game. We needed to beat them. We are in a good place.”
Caitlyn Stolarek opened the match up with a goal for Nation Ford about 80 seconds into regulation. Canaan Ross scored about 90 seconds later to put the Falcons ahead 2-0.
Just over midway through the first quarter, the Copperheads finally struck with a goal. Addison Farrell-Russell scored for Catawba Ridge. Two minutes later, the Copperheads tied the match at two with a goal from Julia McKnight. Katie Bakley put Catawba Ridge ahead 3-2 with 65 seconds left in the first quarter.
The second quarter was all Nation Ford as the Falcons scored three goals to go up 5-4 at the half. Scoring for Nation Ford in the second quarter was Kyrie Surd, Brooke Hufnagel, and Stolarek. Catawba Ridge’s Jane Rohrmeier scored for the Copperheads with less than 30 seconds remaining in the first half.
Ross opened the second half scoring for Nation Ford with about three minutes into the third quarter. Stolarek added two more goals over the next two minutes grabbing a hat trick for herself in the process to make it 8-4.
After a timeout, the Falcons kept the scoring going with a goal from Sarah Kinley. Nation Ford’s streak of four consecutive goals ended with Rohrmeier’s second goal of the match. Colette Boyer continued to cut into the Falcons lead for Catawba Ridge with a goal of her own. Then less than 11 seconds later Paige Conroy scored for the Copperheads to pull them within two at 9-7.
Ross ended the scoring for the Copperheads with a goal with 25 seconds left in the third quarter for her third of the match. However, that was short lived as Catawba Ridge scored with nine seconds left from Boyer to pull within two at 10-8.
The Copperheads opened the fourth quarter with a goal from Bakley pulling within one. After the goal, both teams traded possessions, but turnovers didn’t allow either team to make a run.
Nation Ford added two goals with about two minutes remaining to widen their lead as Ross added her fourth and Riley Gibson added a goal as well.
Carleigh Conroy kept things alive for the Copperheads with a goal less than a minute remaining in the contest.
“We still have a young team,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Patrick Gormley. “It is a question of clicking together.”
April 13 Roundup
The Nation Ford boys’ lacrosse team beat Catawba Ridge 16-6 to improve to 7-7 overall and 4-3 in Region 3-5A. The Copperheads dropped to 3-10 overall and 1-5 in the region.
The Fort Mill girls’ lacrosse team beat Clover 15-5 to improve to 8-3 overall and 6-0 in Region 3-5A.
The Nation Ford baseball team took game one of their series against Catawba Ridge 4-3 scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Noah Layton went 2-3 for Nation Ford with two RBIs including the game winning hit. Ethan Solnick and Ryan Cunnyngham each had two hits for Catawba Ridge. The Falcons improved to 13-5 overall and 7-3 in Region 3-5A. Catawba Ridge dropped to 10-8 overall and 5-5 in the region. Game two is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15 at Catawba Ridge.
The Nation Ford boys’ golf team beat both Fort Mill and Indian Land in a three-way match at Springfield Golf Club. Nation Ford shot a 161 with Fort Mill shooting a 176 and Indian Land shooting a 177. The Falcons were led by a one under 35 from Carter Smith. Connor Mills finished with a 41 and Jacob Brancato shot a 42. Alex Bodel finished with a 43 for the Falcons. Fort Mill was led by a 40 from Wilson Holmes. Brody Blackwell fired a 42 and Andy Blocker and Laike Tolentino each shot a 47.
The Catawba Ridge boys’ golf team fell to Rock Hill at Fort Mill Golf Club 159-163. The Copperheads were led by an even par 36 from Niam Sethi. Muller Otto shot a 41 and Carter Mitten shot a 42. Roman Vasicko finished with a 44.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
