Under a new coach, Green Hope boys soccer wins playoff opener against Holly Springs

One by one, Green Hope boys soccer players sought out coach David Corsbie and shook his hand. Some thanked him. Others congratulated him. They were grateful for his willingness to lead the team after Caleb Norkus’ surprise resignation just five days earlier, after the team had finished its regular season.

They were happy for his first win because it kept the Falcons’ season alive. Green Hope answered the call twice in a 3-2 overtime victory against Southwest Wake Athletic Conference foe Holly Springs (13-6-3), a 24-seed in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys soccer playoffs.

Green Hope (16-4-3), a 9-seed, had gone 1-0-1 against the Golden Hawks in the regular season and finished two games ahead of them in the SWAC, taking second place while Holly Springs was fourth.

“It’s unfortunate that all four of our (SWAC) teams got put in the same part of the bracket and as a result this is a first-round game,” said Holly Springs coach Joey Will. “That’s probably going to be one of the best games in the East bracket.”

Green Hope is on its fourth coach in two seasons. Last year, a midseason coaching change was made by the school as Michael Hoy was dismissed following a high number of yellow and red cards, and interim coach Chip Bunn led the team to the third round of the playoffs, his only loss in 13 games.

Norkus stepped aside for personal reasons, Corsbie said. The team had a few days to regroup and refocus.

“It was only a little bit of me. They kept each other focused,” Corsbie said. “No matter who’s on the bench, our goal is the same.”

Most of the Falcons’ team was on JV last year, but the older players knew how to handle a coaching change and took initiative.

“This one came out more at a worse time,” Green Hope defender Zach Curtis said. “But a lot of us took leadership and told the other players to just stay together and play as a family.”

Holly Springs took the lead twice against Green Hope. The Hawks struck first on a 3-on-1 counterattack coming off a Green Hope corner kick. Brent Mahasi scored on an assist from Jonah Mulligan, and the 10th-minute score held for a 1-0 halftime lead.

Green Hope answered right after halftime, as Derek Walker tapped in a free kick from Parker Washburn that skipped through no fewer than six other players before finding Walker’s foot at the back post.

Six minutes later, Eddie Zuniga flicked in a free kick from Mahasi, and Holly Springs led again, 2-1.

“There’s no way this should be a first-round game,” Corsbie said, echoing his counterpart’s sentiment.

The Falcons’ tying goal was denied by the post and great saves by Hunter Nordberg until the 67th, when a Green Hope cross hit a Hawks defender in the calf and redirected into the net. Green Hope’s winning goal came in the 89th minute, part of the first half of overtime, as Zach Curtis got a second head on a cross into the box.

“They applied a little more pressure (in overtime),” Will said. “Hopefully (Green Hope) can go a little further and give us some solace in losing to them. Now it’s ‘What can we do next year?’”

The Falcons will play Wilmington’s Laney, an 8-seed and 4-1 winner against Harnett Central, on Saturday at 3 p.m.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Under a new coach, Green Hope boys soccer wins playoff opener against Holly Springs."