CARY — Heading into Wednesday’s game against Cary, the Green Hope girls’ soccer team had shut out six of their eight opponents and averaged nearly seven goals a game. They continued this dominant trend on Wednesday night, defeating the Imps 5-0.

The first goal came in the 13th minute of the game, which is actually a little later than what Green Hope is used to.

“We were fortunate in the fact that we were able to get control of things and finally get that first goal, but in a game like that you are right on the edge with them coming up the back line, to break one of those first goals is looking at a very different game,” said Green Hope coach Bobby Peterson.

Alexis Shaffer got the momentum going with a goal off an assist from Alexis Degler, and that was quickly followed by a long shot from senior Maura McDonnell that found the net. The Imps (5-2-1, 4-2-1) forced McDonnell to take a shot from distance, but her speed allowed her to get into position and send the ball past Cary goalkeeper Mackenzie Williams.

Cary’s back line of Anna Witte, Morgan Sullivan, Abby Zuegner, and Kayla Maness persevered despite being down two goals.

“I wanted to utilize playing the balls off the top since we have really fast forwards. I thought we had a really good chance going into the game,” said Witte. “We need to keep getting stronger and build off of what we are good at.”

Green Hope (9-0, 7-0) led 2-0 at the half, but extended their lead to 3-0 after Callie McClain took an assist from McDonnell and knocked one in off the post.

Green Hope defenders Sydney Curtis and Amanda Lasater kept the ball in the Falcons’ possession for most of the game, and with 23:11 left in the second half, Curtis snuck in a shot off of a corner kick from Shaffer.

Green Hope’s fifth goal came from sophomore Adelaide Cooke off an assist from Erynn Mollin with 17:05 to play in the game. Senior goalie Lisa Armstrong made several crucial saves in the final minutes to secure Green Hope’s ninth win of the season and keep them undefeated.

“We play really well together and are laughing the whole time. You play high school because you love the sport. We play the whole game as if it is 0-0, and each goal just puts us further ahead, but we don’t let it slow us down,” said senior captain Alexis Degler.