by Cliff Mehrtens

Hough High rallies for boys soccer tie

The Hough High School boys soccer team rallied for a 1-1 tie at Myers Park on Aug. 30 in a matchup of two of the state’s top Class 4A teams.

Hough’s Tanner Roberts, assisted by Nathaniel Goodwin, scored with five minutes left to tie the game. Hough, No. 9 in the state 4A poll, has a record of 2-1-1. Myers Park, wich is No. 2 in the state poll and was a state finalist last season, is 2-0-1.

Goodwin sailed a shot narrowly over the net late in the first half, and the Huskies bounced another shot off the post with a few seconds remaining before halftime.

On Aug. 23, Hough beat Independence, 5-1, on Roberts’ three goals and Goodwin’s two scores. Midfielder Santiago Patino had three assists.

Lake Norman Charter soccer rolls

Lake Norman Charter’s boys soccer team improved its record to 3-0-1 with a 2-0 victory against Cox Mill on Aug. 30. Tommy Mikuleza and Ryan Jones scored goals, and goalkeeper Christian Hall was in net for the shutout.

The Knights are on a three-game winning streak and have won the past two by shutout.

North Mecklenburg fills coaching positions

North Mecklenburg hired Andy Carter as baseball coach and E. Parker Morse as cheerleading coach.

Carter is a Davidson College graduate and a three-year most valuable player on the Wildcats baseball team. After graduating in 2005, he was drafted by the New York Yankees and played three seasons in their minor-league system. Carter received his masters degree in sports marketing at UNC Charlotte and will teach marketing beginning Sept. 13.

Morse, a UNCC graduate, comes to North Mecklenburg from West Charlotte High. She will teach English.

Hopewell snags first soccer win

Edwin Gomez, Michael Boss and Cole Tesar scored goals in Hopewell’s 3-2 boys soccer victory against Berry Academy on Aug. 29. The Titans improved to 1-1-1. Gomez and Tesar have scored in two consecutive games.

Knights make strong cross country showing

The Lake Norman Charter boys cross country team finished 11th, and the girls team was 15th, among 40 schools competing in the Providence Invitational at Charlotte’s McAlpine Park on Aug. 27. The event had more than 1,300 runners.

Chris Hack paced the Knights’ boys team. Sarah Hardin finished in 20 minutes, 25 seconds to set a school record for the junior class. The lone Knight to win a medal was Matt Panza, a sophomore who finished fifth in the boys junior varsity race.

Hough hosts cancer benefit tournament

The Hough boys soccer team will host the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer soccer benefit tournament on Saturday, Sept. 10. Proceeds will go to pediatric cancer research.

Tickets are $7. The schedule is: Ardrey Kell vs. Asheville T.C. Roberson at 3 p.m., Mallard Creek vs. Winston-Salem Mount Tabor at 4:45 p.m., Myers Park vs. Waxhaw Marvin Ridge at 6:30 p.m., and Hough vs. Charlotte Catholic at 8:15 p.m.

For information, visit cookiesforkidscancer.org

Register youth for cross country

Cross Country for Youth, a 10-week program for runners ages 9 to 14, is accepting registration through Sept. 12.

The Cross Country for Youth program is partnered with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation. The objective is to introduce elementary and middle school students to cross country training.

Participants can register at  www.crosscountryforyouth.org. The cost is $65 per person.

Practices will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays at Elon, Mallard Creek and Sugaw Creek recreation centers. A complete schedule of practice and competition locations will be available once registration is completed.

Fall sports registration under way

The  Cornelius PARC Department is currently accepting registration for the following:

• youth lacrosse beginner clinics (ages 5 to 17). Registration ends Thursday, Sept. 8, and the clinics will be on three Sunday afternoons in September.

• Cornelius-Huntersville Youth Lacrosse League (ages 5 to 14). Registration ends Sept. 12, with intra-league play on Sunday afternoons.

Previous lacrosse experience, through league play, or the beginner’s clinic, is required.

Information on these programs can be found at www.cornelius.org/parks/athletics or by calling 704-892-6031, ext. 160.