Hough goalie Collin Black makes a key save during Saturday night's win. (Kathleen Martin/LKNSports.com)

MOORESVILLE – Hough High’s underdog, underclass boys’ soccer team used a tight defensive effort to score an upset 2-0 victory over Lake Norman High Saturday night in the state boys’ 4A playoffs.

Myers Park next, on Wednesday (see below)

The victory on a crisp, cool evening continued the surprising late-season heroics of Hough, a first-year soccer program that features only underclassmen.

Lake Norman had the more polished and threatening offensive chances throughout the evening, but Hough’s back line, goalkeeper Collin Black, and his best friend, the woodwork, were unrelenting to the Wildcat attack.

Hough was first on the board two minutes into the 2nd half. It came on Lake Norman’s own goal, off a Nathaniel Goodwin free kick from just outside the box.

Lake Norman fell back to a much more even attack after the ref issued red card in the 66th minute to a defender who dragged down a Hough player on a breakaway attempt. That left the Wildcats with just 10 men for the last 14 minutes.

The Huskies scored their final goal in the last minute when Lake Norman’s goalkeeper came forward to help search for a last-breath equalizer, only to have Hough’s James Jackson motor past him down the sideline and lay it over him from 30 yards away.

The real hero of the night, however, was Black, the Hough goalkeeper, who time and again – and at point blank range – fought and parried away ball after goal-seeking ball. That included a perfectly measured and rightly-guessed save of a penalty kick nine minutes before halftime.

MYERS PARK UP NEXT

Hough High’s record moves to an even 12-12-1 record after their 4th consecutive NCHSAA playoff victory. The Huskies play next on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Myers Park High School in Charlotte. Myers Park advanced Saturday night with a 2-0 victory over South Meck.

HOUGH vs. LAKE NORMAN GALLERY

Photos by Kathleen Martin/LKNSports.com Click any image to start the slide show.