Strake Jesuit senior attackman Chris Duin gave his head coach the best birthday present anyone could ask for: A thrilling win over his brother.

Duin scored the game-winning goal with 30 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Crusaders to an 8-7 victory over Kingwood in a Texas High School Lacrosse League South District Division I game.

Duin scored a transition goal off a rebound immediately after Kingwood junior goalie Pat McClernon had made a save from point-blank range. The ball ricocheted directly off McClernon and into the stick of Duin, who made no mistake on head coach Mike Block’s special day.

Kingwood’s head coach Randy Block is Mike Block’s younger brother.

“To win a game against my brother on my birthday, it’s a hell of a day,” Mike Block said.

Senior middie-attackman Joey Wippold scored a game-high four goals, Duin’s clincher was his second and senior middie Patrick O’Meara had a goal and an assist for Strake Jesuit (2-0), which won its second straight to start the season. Senior middie-attackman Drew McKay also had a goal to round out the scoring for the Crusaders.

In defeat, junior attackmen Josh Henderson and Ryan DeLange each finished with three points on two goals and an assist for Kingwood (0-1), which dropped its season opener.

Defensively, McClernon saved 13 shots, including seven in the fourth quarter.

“Their goalie was unbelievable,” Mike Block said. “I don’t even know what to say about him.”

In a back-and-forth game, it was 2-2 at the end of the first quarter, Strake Jesuit led 5-3 at halftime and Kingwood led 6-5 going into the fourth quarter. After Strake Jesuit tied it in the fourth, Wippold gave the Crusaders a 7-6 lead when he scored with 3:07 remaining in regulation.

Kingwood drew even and forced overtime on a goal by DeLange with 1:30 remaining, and the teams then played 3:30 minutes of scoreless lacrosse in the extra period before Duin won it for Strake Jesuit, a final result Mike Block said his team was fortunate to get.

“They easily outplayed us tonight, even though we came out on top on the scoreboard,” he said of a game that will only count toward overall records but will not count for the district standings.

“Our defense played real well. We didn’t play very well or smart on offense. Our settled offense was horrendous, which gave them a lot of transition opportunities, and our defense stood their ground.”