Peterson has watched his Falcons this season develop around forward Grace Hamashima.

The Falcons’ 6-4 victory against Sanderson on Wednesday was another example of Hamashima’s affect – not just strategically on the field, but also in uplifting her teammates emotionally.

With the pressure that comes in a first-round playoff match against an improving underdog, Hamashima led Green Hope with two goals and an assist. Both of her goals, coming in the 18th and 33rd minute, stopped Sanderson’s momentum after the Spartans were able to tie the score on both occasions.

“This has been her best game to date,” Peterson said of Hamashima. “She has all the hustle in the world, and she’s never let us down when she plays.”

Getting back on the field was Hamashima’s biggest priority this season after suffering an ACL tear in her right knee last year. She missed half of this season and has slowly built up her fitness. Hamashima said she still doesn’t feel completely healthy, but she displayed quick feet in Sanderson’s territory.

On her second goal, Hamashima didn’t run directly at Sanderson goalkeeper Carly Tinstman as Green Hope was executing a counterattack. Hamashima instead took an angle toward the near goalpost. There, she waited for midfielder Alexis Shaffer to give her a cross into the penalty box.

“I feel like this was a big game for me in terms of confidence,” Hamashima said. “Cutting and everything else is coming back and my team has really encouraged me.”

At times this season, Shaffer noticed Hamashima was struggling to play consistent. Now Shaffer thinks Hamashima is improving at just the right time for the Falcons (18-1).

“I think we realize with everybody getting healthy we can be more effective than normal,” Shaffer said. “This recovery has been amazing for Grace. We just tell her to keep going because we need her.”

Shaffer, who also scored a goal, knows another healthy forward creates more passing options for her in the field. And it was that spacing between the Falcons that led to many of their goals.

“It’s really important that everybody knows where they are supposed to be,” Hamashima said. “We were really effective in getting crosses out wide, and we were able to dribble and score, too.”

Green Hope will host Holly Springs in the second round at 6 p.m. Friday. The Falcons have already defeated Golden Hawks (10-7-1) twice this season.

Caps oust Apex: Broughton came from behind to force a penalty kick shootout and advanced past Apex 2-1.

The teams played through a scoreless regulation game, but Apex (15-3-1) took the lead on a goal by Kaitlin Walker with about six minutes left in the second overtime period. Broughton (11-8) tied the score with 90 seconds left in the overtime on a goal by Jessica Crowder off an assist by Clay Weaver.

Neither team scored in the two sudden-death overtimes, setting up the penalty kick situation.

“To get down on the road against a quality team and manage to win is a big achievement,” said Broughton coach Izzy Hernandez said. “We entered the playoffs as the No. 4 team from the Cap Eight and we’re going to be on the road. This is the road that we’ve built for ourselves.

“Apex is a quality team.”

Clark scores three: Ashley Clark scored three goals in leading Panther Creek to a 4-0 win over Hoke County on Tuesday.

The Catamounts will at Leesville Road in the second round, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

Hawks win in PKs: Holly Springs and Jordan ended Tuesday’s playoff match-up scoreless. They did the same in at the end of two full overtime periods and again after two sudden-death overtime periods.

But the Golden Hawks defeated Jodan 3-1 on PKs to win the game 1-0 and pick up their first playoff win in school history.

Cary falls at ECH: Cary’s first trip to the girls soccer playoffs ended in the first round Wednesday night with a 2-0 road loss at East Chapel Hill. The Imps end the year 8-9-2 overall.