Green Hope kept possession much of the first half, leaving Green Level playing defense.

When you give a talented team too many chances, eventually one of them is going to lead to a goal. On Tuesday night, the Falcons took advantage of eight goals as (12) Green Hope defeated (28) Green Level 8-2 to advance to the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state playoffs.

It took 18 minutes for Green Hope to score the first goal. Andrew Zagacki scored after Green Level was whistled for a hand ball in the 18th minute, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead.

Once the scoreless tie was broken though, Green Hope rolled.

In the 25th minute, Lucas Covil scored, then Jacob Colberg added a goal off an assist from Ethan Scott in the 28th minute.

Zagacki scored two more goals before halftime to record a first-half hat trick. He scored in the 30th and 32nd minutes to push the Green Hope lead to 5-0.

The last goal of the first half came in the 34th minute from Green Hope’s Caleb Kim. The Falcons led Green Level 6-0 at halftime.

Zagacki didn’t stop with a hat trick. In the second half, Zagacki converted a pass from Jad Kurdieh to score his fourth goal of the game. The Falcons also got a goal from Trevor Laserna to push the lead to 8-0. A.J. Schnotz was credited with the assist.

Green Level recorded two late goals in the second half to avoid the shutout, but Green Hope’s 8-goal cushion was more than enough to carry the Falcons into the third round.

Green Hope will host (20) New Hanover in the third round on Thursday. The Wildcats beat (4) Enloe 1-0 on Tuesday night.