MOUNT HOLLY — In 14 seasons coaching high school soccer, River Hawkins can’t recall one more satisfying than the 2026 campaign. Such is the same reason the East Gaston skipper believes the end came far too soon.
Seeded sixth in the NCHSAA 4A West playoffs, the Warriors fell 2-1 May 14 to a scrappy Wilkes Central squad. East Gaston’s season ends with a 16-3-1 record.
“I preached to them early this season after winning at Highland Tech in double overtime, all the emotions of big victories and the euphoria which comes with it, you have to navigate it and know the bitter lows of tough defeats exist as well,” Hawkins said. “(After the game) I told them we didn’t lose, we simply ran out of time this season.”
Riding high after claiming the Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A title — the program’s third league championship in four years — East Gaston struck first in the 16th minute on a Wilkes Central own goal. The Warriors flirted with adding to their tally, but were unable to produce the quality finish which helped it score 85 goals during the regular season.
Momentum shifted with under 10 minutes remaining until halftime, Wilkes Central earning a penalty kick following an East Gaston foul inside the penalty area. Wilkes Central senior standout Riley Huffman, who had 63 goals coming into Thursday’s playoff matchup, added to her total on the penalty kick, tying the game at 1-1.
The game remained that way until the 15-minute mark of the second half, when Huffman worked her way past the East Gaston back line and past the Warrior goalkeeper for her second goal of the night.
“(Huffman) is an exceptional player, an incredible scorer,” Hawkins said. “Add to that an incredible midfielder (in Caeleigh Ridgell), and there is a reason why one of them has scored 60 goals and the other has more than 60 assists.”
Wilkes Central controlled the midfield much of the night, scrambling to loose balls and keeping an efficient East Gaston team in check.The Warriors had one opportunity late, but was snuffed out by Eagle goalkeeper Diana Atempa. While lamenting what he believed was contact inside the penalty area, Hawkins admitted such is simply part of the game.
“I could sit here and say we deserved (the call), and we did this and we did that,” he said. “I’ve been given calls I shouldn’t have, and not gotten calls I felt certain I should have. I can argue those things until I’m blue in the face, but at the end of the day the scoreline is the scoreline.”
While it would be easy to lean into the disappointment of the moment, Hawkins instead focused on the positives, chief among them a banner season most outside the program didn’t see coming.
“You’d be hard-pressed to get me to rank many teams over this one,” he said. “They are so special to me on a personal level because so many people doubted them, they weren’t supposed to accomplish what they did. Fortunately, this team has a bunch of juniors and can learn from this.
Hawkins added: “These girls are really invested in the program and will be back. Our seniors swalked out of here with three conference championships in four years, and with a young roster I am thrilled with what we have moving forward.”
Area playoff scores
Second round
6A West
(3) A.C. Reynolds 5, (14) Kings Mountain 1
5A West
(3) East Lincoln 8, (14) Concord 0
(4) South Point 9, (13) Crest 0
(7) Forestview 3, (10) Smoky Mountain 2
4A West
(11) Wilkes Central 2, (6) East Gaston 1
(14) Bandys 4, (3) Burns 0
(21) Lincoln Charter 3, (5) Salisbury 1
3A West
(1) Pine Lake Prep 7, (17) West Lincoln 0
(3) Polk County 7, (14) Piedmont Community Charter 1
(4) Wheatmore 2, (13) Lincolnton 0
2A West
(2) Mountain Island Charter 10, (15) East Wilkes 0
(3) Murphy 1, (14) Cherryville 0
(12) Bradford Prep 4, (5) Highland Tech 2
Monday, May 18
Third round
5A West
(6) North Davidson at (3) East Lincoln
(7) Forestview at (2) Hickory
(12) North Henderson at (4) South Point
4A West
(21) Lincoln Charter at (4) Ashe County
2A West
(10) Corvian Community at (2) Mountain Island Charter
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: East Gaston girls soccer falls to Wilkes Central in NCHSAA 4A West playoffs