The Fort Mill High School girls lacrosse program secured its third consecutive Upper State title Tuesday evening, defeating Riverside 18-10 at Bob Jones Stadium. The victory sends the Yellow Jackets back to the state finals for a third straight season, where they will compete for the Class 5A-Division 2 crown.
Fort Mill (13-4) overcame an early deficit after the Warriors found the net within the opening minute of play. The Yellow Jackets responded with a flurry of scoring, led by a balanced offensive attack that featured multi-goal performances from Cece Shia, Catherine Bois, Molly Bennett, and Mallory Hitch. By halftime, Fort Mill had established a commanding 9-4 lead, maintaining control through the middle quarters to stymie any comeback attempts from the visitors.
The defensive unit and midfield transition game proved vital in the second half. Even as Riverside managed a late three-goal run in the third period, the Jackets countered immediately. Hitch and Bennett both completed hat tricks to extend the margin, while the offense continued to press late into the fourth quarter to finalize the eight-goal victory.
The win sets up a championship clash against Lower State champion Lucy Beckham, which advanced to the final following a 10-8 win over Chapin on Tuesday.
The 2026 SCHSL Class 5A-Division 2 State Championship game is scheduled for Friday at Irmo High School in Columbia. This will be the third year in a row the Yellow Jackets have traveled to the Irmo campus with a state title on the line.
