Boys Soccer

Top-seeded Holly Springs shuts out Cardinal Gibbons in third round, 2-0

Two first-half goals helped (1) Holly Springs advance past (8) Cardinal Gibbons in the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys soccer state playoffs on Wednesday night.
Posted 2019-11-14T02:40:01+00:00 - Updated 2019-11-14T02:40:01+00:00
Holly Springs advanced to the fourth round of the 4A boys soccer state playoffs with a 2-0 home win over Cardinal Gibbons on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. (Photo By: Nick Stevens/HighSchoolOT.com)

Two first-half goals helped (1) Holly Springs advance past (8) Cardinal Gibbons in the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys soccer state playoffs on Wednesday night.

With a 2-0 lead at halftime, Holly Springs held Cardinal Gibbons scoreless through the second half to claim the two-goal win.

For much of the first half, the two teams were in a scoreless tie. That tie was broken in the 28th minute when Cade Viney scored to put the Golden Hawks up 1-0.

After a couple more chances, Holly Springs struck again when Drew Lovelace scored a goal to put the Hawks up 2-0 in the 37th minute. Holly Springs led 2-0 at halftime.

Cardinal Gibbons dominated possession in the second half and Holly Springs had to weather multiple shots from the Crusaders in the final 40 minutes.

Perhaps the best opportunity for Cardinal Gibbons came on a shot by Declan Shaw in the 50th minute that hit the post.

Shaw had another opportunity from inside the box after a rebound in the 71st minute, but Ben Aube, who pitched the shutout in goal, made the save.

Cardinal Gibbons had another chance inside the box in the 72nd minute, but Alec Harrison's shot sailed over the goal.

With Wednesday's win, Holly Springs advances to the fourth round of the state playoffs where it will host (4) Leesville Road on Saturday. The Hawks are now 21-2-1. Cardinal Gibbons finishes the season with a record of 19-3-3.

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