CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Nine minutes into Friday’s marquee matchup between two of the state’s top 4A girls lacrosse programs, Weddington crossed midfield on the offensive attack for the first time.

The Warriors were already in a 5-0 hole.

Chapel Hill’s first-quarter dominance was enough to lift the Tigers to a 14-10 victory, making them 10-0 this season.

Scarlett Gilner and Ashton Beale scored all 10 of Chapel Hill’s first-half goals. Working out of a methodical offensive attack, the duo made the most of their early possessions to build up a 6-1 lead after one.

The Tigers’ early success was a byproduct of Gilner and Beale’s ability to win draws. Weddington closed the gap over the final three quarters, winning the game 9-8 during that stretch and getting as close as 13-10 in the final minutes.

Abbey Testa opened the second quarter with a goal for the Warriors. Gilner answered 12 seconds later, and Beale scored from free position to grab the Tigers’ largest lead of the day.

Gilner and Grace Webb traded a pair of goals late in the half to send Chapel Hill into the break ahead 10-4.

A strong defensive stand late in the second helped Weddington churn up momentum. The Warriors held the Tigers scoreless for the opening five minutes of the third. Logan Hailey scored during that span to close the gap to 10-5.

The added defensive pressure on Gilner and Beale opened up opportunities for Emily Breschi, who scored twice in the second half.

After falling behind 13-7 early in the fourth, Webb and Testa fueled a 3-0 Weddington run with 4:15 left on the clock. Chapel Hill managed the clock well down the stretch, and Lilly Burton’s only goal of the night ended up being too much for the Warriors to overcome.

The Tigers enter their spring break with a record of 10-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play. On April 9, they return to action with another big matchup: a rivalry showdown with East Chapel Hill, which is currently 9-0.

Weddington wraps up one of the toughest weeks that a lacrosse team in the state can endure. The Warriors are 6-2 overall after dropping a thriller to Cardinal Gibbons and winning big over Myers Park. The Warriors have conference games next week with Sun Valley and Cuthbertson. A non-conference matchup against Ardrey Kell is sandwiched in-between.