How East Gaston girls soccer found silver lining despite playoff loss

TL;DR

East Gaston girls soccer ended their season with a 2-1 playoff loss to Wilkes Central, finishing with a 16-3-1 record. Coach River Hawkins expressed pride in the team's journey despite the defeat.

Key points

East Gaston girls soccer lost 2-1 in the playoffs
The team finished the season with a 16-3-1 record
Coach River Hawkins expressed pride in the team's journey
The loss was to Wilkes Central in the NCHSAA 4A West playoffs
Hawkins emphasized navigating emotions in sports

How East Gaston girls soccer found silver lining despite playoff loss

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.”

GOLD RUSH: Here are Gastonia, Shelby standouts from NCHSAA track and field meet

PLAYOFFS' TOP PERFORMERS: South Point standout's big night leads Gastonia, Shelby top performers

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.”