(2) Cardinal Gibbons holds off (10) Holly Springs boys lacrosse in third round
RALEIGH, N.C. — Cardinal Gibbons had the finishing kick to hold off upset-minded Holly Springs in the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys lacrosse playoffs on Tuesday.
The Crusaders scored four goals in the fourth quarter to come away with a 12-9 victory in a game that was tied 8-8 after three.
Led by junior Joey Jonske, the Crusaders were able to outlast the Golden Hawks in a physical battle that went back-and-forth for most of the game. After being relatively quiet in the first quarter, Jonske exploded in the second, third, and final quarter of the match, leading the team in goals with four with an assist to go along with it.
Junior Brody Bessette gave Holly Springs the lead to start the game with a goal during the Golden Hawks first possession. This lead stayed with them through halftime as Holly Springs led 7-5. For Gibbons, juniors Justin Conley and Brown Parker had worked to keep the game close and managed to give Gibbons the lead for a couple minutes in the first half, but after three unanswered goals scored by Holly Springs, the momentum started to shift towards the Hawks.
Gibbons won the third quarter 3-1 to tie the match, then Conley quickly scored in the fourth quarter to give Gibbons the lead and Parker followed up with score on an assist from junior Zach Kerner.
Despite senior Jake Ellerson giving his best attempt to keep the Golden Hawks in the game after trailing late in the game with a goal of his own, it was too little too late and Crusaders were able to cushion their lead with a shot from sophomore Zachary Garcia.
Also helping turn the tied was the play of junior Alex DeBender at the faceoff X for Gibbons. He was 9-of-17 on the night in faceoffs, but won all but one in the fourth. Goalie Chris Schwartz had 11 saves for Gibbons.
Conley had two goals and two assists while Parker had one goal and two assists. Joining them in the scoring, besides Jonske's four goals and one assist, were: Garcia (1 goal), Dolan (1 goal, 1 assist), DeBender (1 assist), and Kerner (1 goal, 1 assist).
For Holly Springs, it was led by Ellerson's three goals. Bessette added two goals and one assist, Alex Bedell had two goals, Seth Popow had one goal, Jase Popow had one assist, Jay Legg had one goal, and Jake Bedell had one assist.
The defending champ Crusaders, seeded second in the 4A bracket, will host third-seeded Heritage on Friday to determine who will play in the East regional final next week.
Blair Mitchell contributed to this report.
