Rebels Fall to SouthLake 4-2 in Tournament Finals

West Lincoln Rebels lose championship match in annual Easter tournament

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:44pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a high school soccer match, with overlapping planes of green, white, and blue.A cubist interpretation of the intense action and competition on the pitch during the 8 Mile Easter Tournament championship match.Lincolnton Today

The West Lincoln Rebels high school soccer team advanced to the finals of the annual 8 Mile Easter Tournament, but ultimately fell to SouthLake Christian Academy by a score of 4-2 after defeating Grace Academy and West Caldwell in the earlier rounds.

Why it matters

The 8 Mile Easter Tournament is a highly anticipated annual event for local high school soccer teams in the Lincolnton, North Carolina area, with the championship match drawing large crowds and media attention.

The details

The West Lincoln Rebels had a strong tournament run, defeating Grace Academy and West Caldwell to reach the finals. However, they were unable to overcome SouthLake Christian Academy, who won the championship match 4-2.

  • The 8 Mile Easter Tournament took place on April 14-15, 2026.
  • The Rebels defeated Grace Academy and West Caldwell in the first two rounds on April 14th.
  • The championship match between the Rebels and SouthLake Christian Academy was played on April 15th.

The players

West Lincoln Rebels

The high school soccer team from West Lincoln High School in Lincolnton, North Carolina.

SouthLake Christian Academy

The high school soccer team from SouthLake Christian Academy, a private school located in the Lincolnton area.

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What they’re saying

“We gave it our all, but SouthLake was the better team today. Congrats to them on the win.”

— Coach Mike Johnson, Head Coach, West Lincoln Rebels

What’s next

The Rebels will look to bounce back from this tournament loss as they prepare for the upcoming state playoffs.

The takeaway

Despite the championship defeat, the West Lincoln Rebels' strong tournament run demonstrates the team's talent and potential for future success in high school soccer.