Specifically, it felt like playoff lacrosse time.

In a contest that lived up to its billing as a game between two of the better lacrosse teams in the area, Apex came from behind in the fourth period with three goals to edge the Golden Hawks 8-7 in a Conference 2 showdown.

Cougar senior Alex Vanderhoff scored the game winner with just 17.6 seconds remaining to keep Apex undefeated (3-0) and hand Holly Springs (5-1) its first loss of the season. Vanderhoff led the Cougars with three goals.

In all there were five ties and four lead changes. Apex returned the favor from last year, when the Golden Hawks edged the Cougars by the same score.

“I was proud of our guys, especially how they matched Holly Springs’ intensity for 48 minutes,” said Apex head coach John Hayden. “This is high school athletics at its best. There was a lot of respect out there between both groups of kids.”

A pair of freshmen also shined for Apex. Derek Sweet and Luke Sieber connected on two of the Cougar goals, with Sweet scoring and Sieber assisting both times. Their second tied the score 7-7 with 1:48 to play, setting up Vanderhoff’s heroics.

“Both of those freshmen are talented and tonight they stepped up,” said Hayden. “This was a playoff-type game and this helps these young men with their growth process.”

Sieber also scored twice, including the first goal of the game (6:41 first period). Sweet made the defensive highlight of the night, intercepting a Golden Hawk pass with 50 seconds left and then getting the ball up the field to Vanderhoff.

It was a tough loss for Holly Springs, who led 7-5 with just four minutes left. The Golden Hawks had trailed 5-4 entering the final period but reeled off three goals before Apex answered.

Junior Alex Dantzler led the Golden Hawks with two goals, while Devon Lepsch, Patrick Citron, Marcos Goldstein, Corron Boston and Tyler Galvin also scored.

“Our kids certainly expected it to be a close game,” said Holly Springs head coach Doug Greenberg, whose Hawks led 4-3 at intermission. “This game gives both teams an opportunity to be tested, which can only be a benefit later on.”

Holly Springs’ senior and University of Virginia recruit Frank Price played in just his second game of the young season.

The Apex junior varsity mirrored its senior team and scored the game-winning goal with 13 seconds left to pull out a 5-4 decision.