Creekside, coming off an extremely close game against its district rival, Ponte Vedra, Tuesday night, had to turn around and face Matanzas Friday night under the lights in the Knights Castle. Knowing Matanzas defeated Nease at the beginning of the season made for a much anticipated match-up with Matanzas. However, both JV and Varsity Creekside Knights defeated their respective Matanzas teams. JV started off the night with Jason Tidball scoring for the Knights. The game went back and forth with the Knights leading 5-2 at the half. After the half, the Pirates scored first and with the help of their star player, Jackson Courson and his side-arm shot, continued to return scores narrowing the score 6-7 with 5:38 left in the game. Great showing by both teams but the Knights won with final score 7 to 6.

Varsity Knights took the field and the Pirates delivered a score within the first few minutes of the 1st quarter. However at 9:08 left in the 1st Quarter Creeksides’ Brandon Edwards returned the score. Then in barrage of shots from Pirates shooter, Gunner Parson, scored on the Knights again. The game continued in this manner with Storm Schalit and Parson shooting a lot of shots on goal for the Pirates. Knights Goalie Conor Ryan finished with 14 Saves with several key saves in the 4th quarter. End of 1st Quarter was tied 3-3. In the 2nd quarter, the Knights had a penalty that cost them a score by the Pirates. However, Timmy Vanderlinde brought the score to 5-5 at the half. After the half, Matanzas came out guns blazing and scored within minutes. With only 4:30 left in the 3rd quarter, the score was 7-7, but with defensive plays of Creekside, Gunner Parson’s lethal shot was off the table. Creekside expanded their lead to 10-7 before Matanzas finally answered to bring it within 2 goals. The Knights Julian Bonilla answered on the very next faceoff to expand their lead back to 11-8. Again, the scoring went back and forth until the Knights separated the score 14-10. In the last few minutes of the 4th quarter, the Pirates did not give up and put up two more scores with the final score of the game 14-12 in the Knights favor. Creekside finished with 8 different scorers on the night with 8 of the 14 goals assisted. The Knights take on another formidable team District opponent Fleming Island, on Tuesday the 1st of March at 8pm.