In the midst of developing in a tough new conference under a first-year head coach, the Cedar Ridge lacrosse team has developed scoring punch.
With its leading scorer held to one goal, the Red Wolves found the pieces to pull out a win under the new state playoff format on Tuesday night.
Jackson Burrows scored a career-high six goals as the Red Wolves broke open a tie game in the fourth quarter to defeat Wake Prep Academy 14-12 in the opening round of the 6A-1A State Playoffs in Wake Forest.
Burrows, a junior, earned his 17th career hat trick and he continues to save his best for the end of his junior season. Burrows scored five goals in a win over Southeast Alamance on May 5. He had a hat trick in a 8-7 overtime win at Eastern Alamance on April 27.
Burrows also had two assists to finish with a career-high eight points.
Cedar Ridge, seeded #18, will travel to Cameron to face third-seeded Union Pines in Cameron on Friday night. The Red Wolves and the Vikings met in the 2nd round last year after Cedar Ridge won at Voyager Academy in the first round.
Cedar Ridge has won four of its last six games.
The Guardians led the Red Wolves 6-4 at the end of the first quarter, but Cedar Ridge reeled off six unanswered goals in the second quarter to go ahead 10-6 at halftime.
Cedar Ridge led 12-11 going into the fourth quarter.
Senior goalkeeper Mikey O’Melia, in the midst of an athletic campaign where he’s qualified for the state wrestling championships, made some crucial saves in the final minutes to hold the Guardians to one goal in the final 12 minutes.
Jeremy Holquist scored a season-high four goals to help the Red Wolves win a state playoff game for the second straight year. It was the second straight game he’s scored six points. Against Southeast Alamance, Holquist registered two goals and four assists. It was his third hat trick of his career, all of which have come this season.
Hart, who will attend Virginia Tech starting in August, scored one goal and dished out three assists. Colby Hendrickson, Joseph Driver and Grant Thole also scored goals for Cedar Ridge.
Junior Alexander Desrosiers added an assist as the Red Wolves improved to 6-13 under new head coach John Toptine.
