The Crusaders (20-0-1) played Jacksonville’s Cardinals (25-2) in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Eastern Regional final for the second year in a row and this time took a 2-1 victory.

They will play either Charlotte Catholic or Hickory at 1:30 at Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park.

The Crusaders lost to Marvin Ridge in last season’s state final, but coach Michelle Miller sees a more mature team playing for the title this time.

“Last year, we were more of a young, inexperienced team, happy to be there,” Miller said. “Really, this year with our talent it should be our goal to not only get there but have more success.”

The Crusaders showed their maturity after the ?Cardinals took a 1-0 lead 13 minutes into the game. Jacksonville’s Morgan Leyble passed the ball inside, and sophomore Meredith McCarty was able to steer it into the net. The goal was only the fifth against ?Gibbons this season.

“We knew they were a very good offensive team. With their offensive talent, I wasn’t surprised they scored,” Miller said. “But we didn’t lose our focus, didn’t get rattled. We had created some chances early but just didn’t score, but I had the confidence we would score some goals.”

Cardinal Gibbons tied the score just past the halfway point of the first half when senior Kiki Davis fed the ball to freshman Morgan Reid, who drilled in the shot.

Davis got the winning goal in the 54th minute after a long free kick from sophomore Christina Gibbons.

Miller said the play of ?senior Sarah Russo was a key to the win.

“We moved her to right midfield in the second half, and [that change] helped us calm down and possess the ball better,” said Miller, who also pointed to the defensive play of senior centerbacks Casey Hachem and Shannon Spillane.

“They had a forward [Leyble] with a combination of size and skill that we don’t see a lot, and they did a nice job of neutralizing her, especially in the second half,” Miller said.

Jacksonville coach Dave Miller said his team started five freshmen and three sophomores and had a surprisingly good season. The Cardinals lost their opening game and then won 25 in a row before losing to the Crusaders.

“We should be better next year,” Jacksonville’s Miller said. “Our boys played Gibbons in the Eastern finals this past fall, and now we’ve played the girls two years in a row. It would be good to have an annual rivalry like that.”

This was the Crusaders’ sixth consecutive trip to the Eastern Regional, and they won the state 2-A title in 2007.

Now they’ll be shooting for another championship trophy Saturday.