Calvary played to its strengths and made Brenna Ehlinger's goal with 4:54 left in the first half stand up.
"We did a really good job playing our style of soccer," assistant coach Carrington Dahmer said.
Dahmer and Kristen Turner stepped in for absent head coach John Stubblefield, who missed the team's playoff run because he was in Kentucky to make arrangements for an adoption process.
Calvary (18-1-1) controlled the ball and the tempo for most of the first half.
"In the first half they kept such good space," Cary Christian coach Rick Wharton said.
Calvary had numerous chances on net, but the work of Cary Christian goalkeeper Katrina Wertz turned them away. Wertz made several key saves, including a diving stop on a redirect by Ehlinger late in the first half.
"Every time I dive, it makes it more fun for me," Wertz said.
The fun abated when Ehlinger received a pass from Addison West and beat her defender for a one-on-one chance. Wertz came out to play the angle, but Ehlinger found the far side of the net for the late first half goal.
"It was a great shot on her part," Wertz said.
Cary Christian (20-1-1) showed a little more purpose in the second half, forcing the play in Calvary's side of the field, but the Knights didn't have many opportunities on goal as Calvary turned them away.
The Knights' best chance came late in the second half when Julia Manchester dribbled down the side and beat her defender.
Manchester sent a crossing pass that found the lunging foot of Noelle Beasley from about 12 yards out, but the ball sailed high over the net with 4:22 remaining in the game.
The Knights would not have a better opportunity.
"The last 20 minutes was all Cary Christian. They never quit," Wharton said. "The girls at halftime thought the game was theirs."
Cary Christian has played in the last five state finals but only came away victorious in 2008.
Wertz, a junior, felt this year's loss was easier to take than previous ones.
"Last year we were disappointed and mentally beating ourselves up," she said. "Everyone had something they could have done better, but today we gave it our best. I don't regret today."
