HOLLY SPRINGS — Many of Holly Springs’ lacrosse seniors played at Middle Creek their freshmen year. They know the program and their former teammates very well.

That’s why it hurt seniors like Zach Hansen and Kevin Groves two years ago, when Holly Springs’ brand new lacrosse team got worked over by Middle Creek’s established program. But with Holly Springs’ best season to date with an undefeated record, the tables turned.

After a back and forth first quarter, Holly Springs dominated on both sides of the field, running away with the game 16-5 over Middle Creek on Wednesday and continuing its early season dominance.

Middle Creek pulled to as close as 5-4 early in the second quarter and Holly Springs coach Doug Greenberg attributed his team’s slow start to the pressure on his kids.

“Both teams know each other a little more closely than other teams do — you have to work through that sometimes,” Greenberg said.

But as soon as Holly Springs got in its groove, Hansen and the rest of the senior class was not going to let up.

“We were a start-up school two years ago and we played them on their home field then and they got us pretty good and that hit us pretty hard,” Hansen said.

“This game meant a lot to us, so we wanted to take it to them.”

Hansen, along with Alex Dantzler, led the offensive assault and the Golden Hawks controlled possession and stifled any shot attempts from the Mustangs.

“We had to get people to calm down — they’re always excited to be playing — and do what we like to do, which is protect a very good goalie and making sure he sees as few shots as possible,” Greenberg said.

And once the Golden Hawks found their rhythm, Hansen said they were tough to stop.

“There was definitely some nerves involved and we just needed to find a rhythm,” Hansen said. “As soon as our team finds a rhythm we seem to grow exponentially. Once we find each other we get a good team chemistry going.”

After the game, the seniors from both teams were back to being friends again.

And while Hansen and Groves both said it was fun to play against people they know so well, they were excited to keep their undefeated season going against a new rival.

“There’s a good spirit about it and good competition,” Hansen said. “Then at the end it’s good just to give your buddies a hug and say ‘good game.’”