Porter-Gaud Wins Girls Soccer Title
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Charleston - Porter-Gaud’s girls team went wire-to-wire as the top team in Class AAAA this season, completing a 24-2 season with a 6-0 win over Hammond School of Columbia.
Zoe Molten scored three goals and Gracie McCabe added two goals to lead the Cyclones to their first title since 2019.
“We’ve been shooting for this for several years but came up short. This team came into the season very determined and focused,” coach Hope Walters said. “They worked extremely hard. We knew we had a chance for a special season and today was just the final statement.”
Molten’s goal in the sixth minute of play gave the Cyclones a 1-0 halftime lead. A red card on the Hammond goalkeeper left the Skyhawks short-handed and the Cyclones took advantage.
McCabe’s tally in the 47th minute made it 2-0. Less than a minute later, Spencer Hostetter made it 3-0 with a score, and Molten’s second goal pushed the advantage to 4-0 in the 53rd minute.
McCabe scored in the 57th minute and Molten completed her hat trick with a goal in the in final minute of regulation. Molten, a junior, scored 55 goals this season, which was seventh most in the state overall. She has 107 career goals and was named the SCISA player of the year.
McCabe, a freshman, finished with 22 goals and six assists. Senior Claire Trowbridge and freshman Ava Adams also were key midfielders.
The Cyclones allowed only eight goals all season and out-scored their playoff opponents, 21-0.
Senior captain and center back Anna Davis was the leader defensively. Davis started and played in 106 games during her career.
The Porter-Gaud boys were trying to unseat powerhouse Cardinal Newman in the AAAA boys championship but the Cardinals won their sixth consecutive championship with a 6-2 win.
After falling behind on a Cardinal Newman goal in the first minute of play, the Cyclones evened the score on a penalty kick from Mateo Tozzi in the 19th minute. But, the Cardinas answered with two goals over the next 10 minutes and led 3-1 at the half.
A score early in the second half pushed the lead to 4-1. Trailing, 6-1, Porter-Gaud got a goal from Graham Winterfield in the 78th minute of play.
The Cyclones finished with a 16-7 record.
Porter-Gaud sweeps SCISA lacrosse titles
There have been eight state championship games in SCISA girls lacrosse and Porter-Gaud has won all eight titles. The private school powerhouse completed a perfect 19-0 season with an 18-2 win over Heathwood Hall.
Porter-Gaud led early and held a commanding 13-1 lead at halftime. The Cyclones defeated Heathwood Hall three times this season.
Scarlett Mayer finished with five goals and three assists and went over 100 goals this season. Ragan Stryker added four goals and Ravi Hawkins and Hila Tiller each scored three times.
“The eight straight is a great accomplishment but the undefeated season is what really stands out to me,” said coach Brent Hilpert. “Getting to work with this amazing group of girls who came together and pushed each other every day was the highlight of my coaching career..”
The Porter-Gaud boys team also won the state championship on Friday, taking care of Heathwood Hall, 16-5. It was their sixth title in the last seven years after seeing a five-year winning streak snapped in last year’s finals.
