A boys lacrosse top-ten matchup in Wake County did not disappoint on Wednesday night.

No. 2 Cardinal Gibbons scored six goals in the fourth quarter to claim an 11-7 win over No. 9 Middle Creek.

Brown Parker recorded a hat trick for the Crusaders, while Jayce Konowitz did the same for the Mustangs. The game was back-and-forth, and neither team led by more than one goal until the fourth quarter.

Cardinal GIbbons scored the first goal of the game just 13 seconds into the first quarter. Justin Conly scored after the Crusaders won the opening face-off. 90 seconds later, Middle Creek tied the game on a Cooper Lindsay goal.

The Mustangs took a 2-1 lead at the 7:40 mark of the first quarter when Matthew Stoddard assisted the first of Konowitz’s three goals. But the teams ended the first quarter in a 2-2 tie after Parker scored late in the quarter for the Crusaders.

Conly scored the only goal of the second quarter, giving Cardinal Gibbons a 3-2 halftime lead, but Middle Creek tied the game in the first three minutes of the second half on a Konowitz goal as the teams continued trading scores.

Finally, with just 37 seconds left in the third quarter, Zach Kerner scored a goal to put Cardinal Gibbons up 5-4 through three quarters — a lead the Crusaders would not lose.

Kerner scored again early in the fourth quarter to give Cardinal Gibbons a two-goal lead, the first of the game for either team. And while Middle Creek was able to get back within a goal thanks to a Lindsay score just over a minute later, the Mustangs were not able to overcome the multi-goal deficit.

Cardinal Gibbons led by as many as four goals in the fourth quarter on two different occasions, including the final score. The last goal of the game came with just 18 seconds left when Joey Jonske scored on an empty net.

Parker’s three goals led the way for Cardinal Gibbons. Conly, Kerner, and Peter Dolan each scored two goals for the Crusaders. Middle Creek was led by Konowitz’s three goals and Linday’s two goals.

The road does not get easier for Cardinal Gibbons (6-1) going forward. The Crusaders will play again on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. when they host top-ranked Lake Norman in non-conference aciton. Lake Norman has been the No. 1 team in the HighSchoolOT Top 25 since the preseason.

Middle Creek (6-2) returns to action on Thursday night when it travels to Cary for a conference game. The Mustangs have two big games next week as well, including a home game against rival Apex and a trip to reigning 4A state champion Green Level.