CARY - Green Hope erased a three-goal deficit to advance to the NCHSAA 4A Eastern boys' soccer final with a 4-3 win over rival Fuquay-Varina.

Fraser Murphy's goal in the 71st minute proved the winner to cap an exciting comeback for the Falcons (23-1).

Very little went Green Hope's way in the first half. Fuquay-Varina (20-5-2) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first 17 minutes behind goals from Adrian Gonzales and Andrew Sotak.

Even the full moon that hung low over the Green Hope field had the same orange tint that matched the Bengals' jerseys.

"We knew their best players (Gonzales and Sotak), and they split us like a butcher," Green Hope coach Andrew Chadwick said of the early goals.

Gonzales scored the third goal for the Bengals at the 32nd minute in the first half on a feed from Andrew Sotak. It was the 56th goal of the season for the senior forward.

"Those guys work really well together. All season long," Fuquay-Varina coach James Mountford said.

Green Hope had set up in a man-marked defense to detain Gonzales and Sotak but quickly abandoned the strategy.

The Tri-Nine Conference foes split their matches during the regular season. The Bengals handed Green Hope its only loss.

In the 35th minute, Murphy collected a loose ball from a scrum in front of the net and drove it home from point-blank range. Green Hope entered the half trailing 3-1 but was finally on the board. It was the first goal Bengals goalkeeper Zach Sherman had allowed in the playoffs.

"The first goal was a glimpse of hope," Murphy said of his tally.

Trailing by two at the half, Chadwick provided his team with an old soccer adage.

"I told them a (two-goal) lead at half is the worst lead to have," Chadwick said.

The Falcons wasted no time in the second half. On a throw-in, Kellen Foster took a feed from Murphy in front of the net to drive it home for the team's second goal in the 43rd minute.

Drew Altman was the recipient of a lucky bounce off the head to tie the game in the 49th minute. Tommy Labriola sent a hard chopping grounder toward the net that glanced off Altman's head and past Sherman.

The Falcons' team and bench swarmed the duo. A yellow card was issued to someone in the mass, but the game was tied and the moon had risen higher in the sky changing to a luminescent white matching the home jerseys.

"We didn't give up the lead, (Green Hope) earned it," Mountford said.

The teams continued to battle before Murphy collected a pass from Altman, switched to his right foot and drove it home for the eventual game-winner.

Still, Fuquay-Varina wasn't out of it. But a 20-yard blast from Andrew Starnes rang off the left goal post.

It kicked back out to Brandon Starling, who was greeted with an open net, but his 15-yarder sailed high over the goal.

It was the best remaining chance the Bengals would see, and the Falcons' fans stormed the field after timed expired.

It was the farthest Fuquay-Varina had advanced in school history. For Green Hope they advance for a chance to play in the state finals for a third time.

Green Hope played (Southern Pines) Pinecrest on Tuesday in a rematch of the 2009 4A East final. The state championship will be held either Friday or Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park.