With one of his leading scorers, Taylor Rovito, unavailable for last week’s match against Cary, Green Hope coach Bobby Peterson was slightly concerned with where the goals were going to come from against the Imps.

After 80 minutes, the Falcons proved Peterson didn’t have anything to worry about at all.

Six different players found the net, and the Falcons crushed the injury-riddled Imps 7-1 at Cooper Field on March 19.

“We’ve got people back healthy, rested and we got some things clicking today,” Peterson said.

Nicole Danford kicked off the goal-scoring barrage by netting goals in the ninth and 10th minutes. Both were set up by freshman forward Ashley Shaffer.

The first, Shaffer flicked the ball into space near midfield. Danford raced behind the defense and in on goal. Cary keeper Maddie Pendergaft, who was strong in the face of unending first-half pressure, came off her line but Danford touched it by her and into the open net.

A minute later, Shaffer centered the ball from the end line to Danford, who took a few dribbles to her right and tucked the ball into the goal for a 2-0 advantage.

In the 21st minute, Green Hope picked up two more goals, both on corner kicks. Chelsea Garber got to a loose ball and punched it in for a 3-0 lead, and Lauren Boop did the same less than a minute later to put the Falcons ahead 4-0.

Green Hope continued to strike quickly and in bunches in the second half, scoring three goals in a four-minute stretch.

In the 46th minute, Caitlyn Bradham gave Green Hope a 5-0 lead.

In the 47th minute, Maggie McLaughlin one-timed in a pass from Anya Koren, and Shaffer finished the onslaught with a goal in the 50th minute.

Cary got on the board three minutes later when senior Christine Dragonette pounced on a loose ball in the box and popped it in the goal.

It was one of the few miscues the Green Hope defense made all day. The unit kept the pressure off goalkeeper Kristin Westerhorstmann, much like they have all season. Through seven games, the Falcons have surrendered just seven goals.

“We’ve been playing as a really good unit,” Garber said. “We still have a couple things to work on, but overall we’ve been really improving.”

Green Hope improved to 5-1-1 with the win over Cary. The seven goals were the most they’ve scored since a season-opening 8-0 win over Durham Jordan. Their lone loss was a 3-2 overtime defeat to Apex earlier last week.

The Falcons are relying on a healthy blend of youth and experience this year. They have 12 upperclassmen, six freshmen and two sophomores on the roster.

“Team chemistry is great,” Danford said. “I don’t think anybody cares about playing time or anything. We all just go out and play.”

Green Hope has had a handful of players miss time due to injury. With everyone on the mend, Peterson envisions their strong start to continue through the season. But that hinges on keeping everybody healthy.

“A lot of it’s going to be our health,” he said “[But] all you can do is just bunker down and play on.”