RALEIGH, N.C. — With the playoffs just a few weeks away, Friday was the last nonconference tune-up for Topsail and Cardinal Gibbons’ girls soccer teams.

For No. 15 Gibbons, the break from league play resulted in a 2-0 win over the visitors from the coast.

The two teams were tied 0-0 at halftime, with Gibbons — ranked 15th in the state — having the better run of play through the first 30 minutes and Topsail having its way in the last 10.

But after halftime, Gibbons (10-2-2) quickly established itself.

In the 45th minute, Charlotte Fusco’s strike from distance found the upper 90 for a 1-0 lead. In the 58th, Sophia Juhasz got behind the defense and tucked the ball into the far side netting to make it 2-0.

It was Fusco’s seventh on the year and Juhasz’s 13th. The Crusaders are ranked fifth in the 919 area code.

Topsail (8-7-5) has now lost two straight, also falling to cross-the-county old rival Dixon. The Pirates are ranked fourth in the 910 area code and are the only team to defeat back-to-back 4A East champ Ashley this season.

BOX SCORE
CG 0-2 2
TOP 0-0 0
Scoring
45th: Charlotte Fusco (CG 1-0)
58th: Sophia Juhasz (CG 2-0)