The Apex Lady Cougars’ lacrosse team defended their crown on Saturday at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, winning their third consecutive state championship with a thrilling 13-12 win over Charlotte Catholic.

The first half went back and forth with the Cougars scoring a goal with no time left on the clock at the end of the first half to give themselves an 8-6 lead.

With 17 minutes left in the game, Charlotte Catholic came rallying back to tie the game at 10 apiece. Both teams scored again, and with five to go, the score was now 11-11.

At around the 4:00 mark, Charlotte Catholic took the lead 12-11, and Apex was in desperation mode as their dreams of a three-peat were looking dim.

But with 2:36 remaining, Apex tied the game at 12-12 to give the Lady Cougars new life — but this score wouldn’t last long.

Instead of heading into overtime, Apex’s star scorer Cawley Bromley struck again just 23 seconds later to regain the lead 13-12 as the Lady Cougars held on for the win.

Bromley, a junior, was named MVP of the State Championship game. She posted six goals in the championship game alone to lead all Apex scorers.

The completion of the three-peat cements Apex as a dynasty in the sport that will be sanctioned by the NCHSAA next year.

In a sport relatively new to the state of North Carolina, the talent level on this year’s Cougars team is arguably unmatched in state history.

Senior Sarah Fellows will be walking on to Ohio State’s team next year, while Courtney McLaughlin will become the first in-state player to ever play on scholarship at UNC.

While those players will be missed, other players, like Bromley, are getting looks from colleges for future years — which means Apex will yet again be a favorite to win the state title next year.