APEX - When James Hughes and Andrew McCauley are on the lacrosse field, they have plenty to worry about – making good passes, watching out for defenders trying to take their heads off and doing everything they can to help the Middle Creek Mustangs win.

However, they don’t have to worry at all about where the other one is when Middle Creek is on offense. The senior attackers already know. That’s what playing four years together will do.

Thanks to that connection and a blazing start Friday night, Middle Creek (13-4) took down Wilmington Ashley 18-13 in the first round of the state playoffs.

Crisp passing and suffocating defense allowed kept Ashley off-balance and kept the ball in Middle Creek’s hands for much of the first quarter. The well-balanced offense took care of the rest.

James Hughes tallied the first of his eight goals just 22 seconds in and set the tone for a dominating first half. Middle Creek, the No. 2 seed from Conference 2, led 7-2 after just 12 minutes and extended that lead to 12-3 by halftime against the Eagles, the No. 2 seed from Conference 1.

Hughes and McCauley connected on the third and fourth goals of the game and again just before halftime. McCauley found Hughes again early in the third to push Middle Creek’s lead to 14-5 in a game that got out of hand early.

“It’s just four years in the making,” McCauley said. “We know exactly where the other one is going to be and we just find each other.”

Hughes said Middle Creek’s fast start was the key Friday night and something the Mustangs have looked to do all season.

“We jump out on teams really quick, I don’t think teams expect our explosiveness and our ability to move the ball and score with a bunch of different players,” Hughes said. “That’s what always surprises team. We get way ahead of teams before they even know what hit them.”

Hughes finished with 12 points on the night (8 goals, 4 assists) while McCauley added seven more (4 goals, 3 assists). Sophomore Benjamin Doetzer also scored four goals and dished out two assists. Nicolas Hilvano and Joseph White scored one goal apiece.

Middle Creek’s nine goal halftime advantage grew to 11 by the end of the third period, but a lackluster defensive effort in the fourth allowed Ashley to climb back in, as the Eagles found the back of the net seven times in the final 12 minutes. McCauley and Hughes admitted that keeping intensity high in a 10-goal game is easier said than done.

“In the second half we let up a bit and the lead got into our heads a bit,” McCauley said. “When you are up by 10 goals it just happens. We’ve got to pick it up and play better Tuesday.”

For head coach Paul Robison, the fourth quarter let down was a perfect teaching tool for a team looking to put it all together in the playoffs.

“It’s hard to string together four quarters, if you talk to any coach that’s the end of the rainbow,” he said. “Our defense wasn’t communicating in the fourth. It certainly shows where we need to improve and we’ll be doing that tomorrow and Monday, getting ready for out next round.”

Middle Creek faced Cardinal Gibbons Tuesday in the second round. Gibbons throttled Millbrook Friday night, 11-1.

Other scores Wilmington Hoggard 13, Holly Springs 12 (OT); Apex 18, Carrboro 5. Holly Springs ends its season at 10-6 overall.