When the 3A/2A/1A playoff brackets are announced for state lacrosse on Monday morning, the road to the Eastern Regional Championship will run through Red Wolves Stadium.
For Cedar Ridge, it’s a chance to resolve unfinished business. On Friday night, they took a big first step.
The Red Wolves captured the Big 8 Championship by beating Chapel Hill 16-14 at Culton-Peerman Stadium. Senior Carter Danku set the tone early, scoring a hat trick in the first quarter. He finished with seven points.
Senior Jack Widman also tallied three goals and six goals for the Red Wolves (9-4, 8-0 in the Big 8). Attacker Sean Tobin led CRHS with four goals.
Danku scored three goals in a span of 7:28 of the first quarter to spur the Red Wolves ahead 6-3. He also assisted on a marker from Nick Bachelder with :16 remaining in the frame.
Danku assisted on second quarter goals from Tobin and Noah Upchurch.
Kelsey Acome scored twice for Cedar Ridge, while long-stick midfielder Cole Bullard added a goal.
CRHS goalkeeper Noah Berry made ten saves for the victory.
The 24-team field will be announced on Monday. It’s expected that Cedar Ridge will get a bye through to the 2nd round, which means they will play Friday. We’ll have broadcast coverage of Orange and Cedar Ridge throughout the playoffs here on HillsboroughSports.com.