The Green Hope midfielder had just put his team on top in the fourth minute after taking a pass from teammate Drew Altman and slotting a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

When Thompson looked down in time to see the flag he was just about to step over, he reached down and slapped it. The frustration was out of his system for the rest of the night.

Green Hope, ranked No. 5 in the News & Observer boys soccer rankings, kept the good times rolling as they blasted visiting No. 1 Jordan Wednesday night by a 5-0 score.

"It gives us great momentum for the rest of the season," Thompson said. "(Jordan) is one of the top-class high school programs in the state."

The two Triangle powerhouses have established their rivalry over the past two postseasons. In 2009, Green Hope eliminated an undefeated and untied Jordan team in the third round of the playoffs. In 2010, Jordan -- again unbeaten and untied -- ended Green Hope's year in the same round, then went on to win the 4-A state championship.

But Jordan lost most of last year's team to graduation, and now starts just two seniors. The inexperience showed in what was just the program's second loss in its last 49 games.

"(Jordan) could've beaten a college team last year - they were amazing," said Green Hope coach Andrew Chadwick. "It was a motivator for us - the last time they lost was to us two years ago in the quarterfinal What we talked about making (the record) to 47-2."

Thompson's goal, which was started along the left flank, set the tone for Green Hope's early scoring chances. In the 30th minute, Drew Altman's deep run on the left side set up the game's second goal.

Altman delivered the ball to the front of the net. Two quick point-blank opportunities for Green Hope were blocked by Jordan defenders, but junior Tommy Labriola tucked in the third attempt to give his team a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Green Hope wasted no time in the second half either, this time Altman netted a quick score off an assist from Thompson.

Thompson ended the game with a goal and two assists, his second one coming on a deep throw-in that defender Bradley Saacks headed in.

With 17:27 left in the game, Kellen Foster rounded out the scoring with a volley from the right side of the goal after a chip pass from Labriola.

Green Hope had 20 shots to Jordan's three, a statistic helped by the strong play from Green Hope's back line. Entering this season, replacing four starters along back line was Green Hope's only concern.

But players like senior Will Moore, who shifted from midfield to center-back, have stepped up through two games this season with no goals allowed.

"We brought a lot of returners back so we already had a feel from last year," Moore said. "We just had to fill in the missing spots left from last year's seniors."

Chadwick grinned when talking about his team's potential, but recalled that 2009 meeting with Jordan as an example of how things could change between the two sides.

"What scares me is that they beat us 4-1 two years ago in the second game of the season and then we beat them in the playoffs," Chadwick said. "There's a lot that can happen between now and October, so we have cautious optimism."