The Wildcats broke that streak on Sept. 4 with a 2-1 win at home over Chapel Hill. Then, to top everything so far this season, ECHHS swept the Tigers with a superb defensive 2-0 victory on a misty Friday night at Chapel Hill High.

"It feels great. It's a big step for our program, especially since we hadn't beaten them in five years," ECHHS coach Zach Haines said.

Haines had posted a special invitation to the Wildcats fans on his home page a few days before the matchup.

"...Breaking the five-year losing streak versus Chapel Hill was very important for our program, and certainly could not have been possible without the incredible support that all of you provided just over a month ago," he wrote. "The good news is that we have a chance to recreate a similar atmosphere and experience. ... Time to get rowdy. Long live Eastside."

The East student body took him at his word and showed up in force. Both teams came into the match with winning streaks: CHHS (12-6-1 and the state 3-A's 10th-ranked team) had won four straight and nine of its previous 11; East Chapel Hill (12-6-1) had won straight, including a 2-1 win at No. 3-ranked Raleigh Broughton. Each of East's losses had come against Top 15 teams.

Both defenses Friday controlled the tempo in the first half; neither squad could break through for a score. The Wildcats were the more aggressive, which kept goalie Juan Carlos Rivera busy. Rivera had four saves in the scoreless first half and seven for the game.

Finally, ECHHS's Erick Centeno found a slight opening with 33:24 left in the second period and headed the ball past Rivera for the score.

Then it was time for Wildcats goalie Dan "Stonewall" Jackson to go to work. Jackson had four saves in the final 40 minutes, including a spectacular one-handed swipe at the ball to stop what appeared to be a sure goal with 9:16 left.

"I just zone in on the ball the whole time," Jackson said, adding, "This is just an incredible win."

With 54 seconds remaining, Alex Hernandez put away any doubts of the outcome with a shot from the left side of the box. It guaranteed the Wildcats a clean sheet against Chapel Hill for the first time since 2004, when the rivals played only once in a season and the year of East's last victory over CHHS before Friday.

Despite the loss, CHHS coach Ron Benson wasn't too despondent.

"This was a pretty even game, about as even as it gets," he said. "We've been playing well the past few weeks, and I'm satisfied with the direction the team is headed."

The Wildcats close out their regular season Wednesday against winless Roxboro Person. The Tigers, meanwhile, travel to Southern Vance on Monday and Cardinal Gibbons Tuesday before hosting Orange in their regular-season finale.