RALEIGH - The Cardinal Gibbons boys soccer team continued defense of its state title with a 2-0 victory over Mid-State Conference foe Pittsboro Northwood on Saturday night in the fourth round of the NCHSAA Class 2-A playoffs.

The Crusaders controlled the tempo of play from the start, pinning Northwood in its own end for most of the game.

In the early going, Cardinal Gibbons applied pressure on Northwood (17-6-3), but Chargers keeper Zac Scott and his core of defenders did a good job of keeping the Crusaders out of the net.

Gibbons broke through in the 27th minute when senior Morgan Fleming rifled a shot on goal. Scott leaped to deflect it and sent the ball into the crossbar where it bounced down to a waiting Daniel Montero, who easily tapped it in to the open net for a 1-0 lead.

Montero, a junior, scored the second goal of the game early in the second half.

Crusaders keeper Matt Shaefer sent a clearing kick the length of the field. A Northwood defender misjudged the ball and his attempted header skipped behind him. Montero was there to collect the ball for the shot on goal. He buried it past the keeper on the near side.

"I saw the kick was going to be long so I was getting into position to get the ball," Montero said.

The two goals added to Montero's team-leading total of 27 for the season.

With the lead, Cardinal Gibbons was able to play control ball and keep Northwood from formatting a strong attack for the remainder of the game.

"Our team mentality is to play our type of game," Gibbons coach Tim Healy said.

"They're a great team, well-skilled and well-drilled," second-year Northwood coach Russ Frazier said. "We're just building and trying to gain experience."

Cardinal Gibbons goes on the road next week to face Swansboro in the state semifinal. Swansboro defeated Kill Devil Hills First Flight 1-0 in the fourth round.