CHAPEL HILL -- Last week's end of the regular season for boys lacrosse brought a Monty Python moment for Chapel Hill High School. As in, "Now for something completely different."

For CHHS (16-2), whose two losses came from undefeated Gilman (Md.) and at 16-1 Norfolk Academy in Virginia, trailing a North Carolina school 0-4 was something quite different, indeed.

But even the fact that it was the second time in two days that the third-ranked Tigers trailed in the first quarter didn't bother CHHS coach Glen Estacio.

"It was kind of a slow start, but I was pleased with the way the team responded both times to being down," he said.

One night after rallying to defeat No. 6 Apex 11-9 on Wednesday, the Tigers scored six of the last seven goals Thursday night at home to defeat Riverside 13-8.

Stephen Burns had one of his best scoring nights five goals and two assists. Stephen Wistner, a sophomore who's only recently switched from midfield to attack, scored three quick goals in quick succession to help CHHS rally. Kevin Hornik, William Scroggs and Michael Abrams all had two goals, while John Haus and Colie Woods each scored one. Haus, who had a game-high three goals against Apex, assisted on three teammates' scores Thursday.

Chapel Hill dominated in shots (47-22) and ground balls (49-22). Keepers Ryan Montgomery (2 saves) and Matt Patterson (1) again split time evenly in the crease, their opportunities for saves mitigated by solid defensive play by teammates like senior Tim Rodriguez, Estacio noted.

Enough playing time has been just about as big a task as handling opponents for the Tigers. Thursday was "Senior Night" for CHHS, but the Tigers have 21 seniors on their roster, meaning that only about half could start the game.

"It's a nice problem to have," Estacio said. "But not everyone can get the playing time they deserve. A lot of these guys would be regulars or starters at most schools."

Having so many blue-chip players has provided CHHS with the luxury of juggling lineups. The Tigers' first midfield at the start of the year was a devastatingly potent line of Haus, Scroggs and Logan Corey. One of last year's top scorers, Corey, a UNC recruit, voluntarily switched off with Price Carter to join Chris Michell and Kyle Duffy. That's lowered Corey's personal scoring, but given CHHS two more balanced lines that keep opponents on their heels.

"He sacrificed his own numbers to help with everyone else's," Estacio said.

CHHS now has seven players close to 20 goals: Burns, John and Will Haus, Scroggs, Yusiewicz, Wistner and Kevin Hornik. Burns' 38 goals and 27 assists are both team highs. John Haus (24 goals, 26 assists) and Scroggs (23, 18) both finished the regular season with more than 40 points.

That's all great, Estacio said, but "all 34 of our guys contribute to every win, just like every player has contributed to all the success we've had here for the past two-three years."

For example, Estacio observed, Mike Abrams didn't start Thursday but scored two goals. Seeing his first action since injuring an ankle April 4 at East Chapel Hill, Abrams scored 10 seconds into entering Thursday's game, and he scored to put CHHS ahead 8-7 and give it the lead for good.

Readying to begin the defense of its 2007 state championship, CHHS did not yet know Saturday who its opponent would be in the first round of the N.C. High School Lacrosse Association playoffs. But that wasn't the biggest concern for Estacio, who said he didn't want his team to fret too much about attempting to become the first team since Riverside (2001-2002) to repeat as state champions.

"The Xs and Os aren't going to change at this point of the season," he said. "The players know that everyone is gunning for them, and that everyone else thinks anything short of a state championship would be a failure. But we tell them that we just want them to go out there and have some fun and play the best they can; everything else will take care of itself if they do that."