In Middle Creek's 10-6 upset victory over Cardinal Gibbons in the second round of the NCHSAA boys lacrosse playoffs on Tuesday night, Hughes led the Mustangs with six goals. Hughes, an attacker, not only illustrated his offensive talent by scoring, but it seemed at times he willed his way through multiple Crusaders.

In the girls lacrosse playoff game earlier in the afternoon, Cardinals Gibbons used its speed to roll past Wilmington Ashley 20-8.

During Hughes' final act - his last and most impressive goal - he hesitated with ball behind the net before making a difficult shot while falling to the ground.

"It was really a in-the-moment kind of thing," Hughes said. "I know they were going to come and get me, but I knew they couldn't stop me no matter what I was going to do."

With Middle Creek (14-4) taking the lead late in the third quarter, Hughes said he could see Cardinal Gibbons (17-2) pressing to counterattack.

"They were the ones with pressure," Hughes said. "We just came out here as underdogs."

Middle Creek goalkeeper Alec Butler was also effective, as he recorded nine of his 14 saves in the second half. But Butler knew Hughes was the reason the Mustangs never gave up momentum.

"I think as soon as he ran through three people and scored, they got scared," Butler said. "This is the best feeling in the world, and we're going to go in to the next [game] just as hard."

Middle Creek will play on the road at East Chapel Hill (16-2) in the sectional round Friday night.

In the girls game, attacker Shelby Scanlin led Cardinal Gibbons with four goals and an assist while teammate Lane Huger had two goals and one assist.

"I think we started off the way were supposed to because we were spread out really well," Scanlin said. "We played perfect, and I don't think it could have been better."

Whenever Ashley (14-3) turned the ball over, Cardinal Gibbons was able to move the ball down the field with clean passing against and undersized defense.

"We've gotten better at it throughout the past couple of games," Cardinal Gibbons coach Prudence Lyon said of her team's ability to score in transition. "Our passes have been a lot better. It's really exciting watching them grow as a team. It's not just one person getting better."

Cardinal Gibbons (17-2) will host Green Hope (15-3) on Friday, a Falcons team that beat the Crusaders 15-14 in overtime earlier this season.

"We'll be ready for them," Huger said. "Our feelings about them in the first game are a lot different than they are now. We're not scared of them at all."