Greene Central’s Felipe Hinojosa (front) works to keep the ball from going out of bounds during play against Croatan on Wednesday evening. Photo by Rudy Coggins/Neuse News.

SNOW HILL - Croatan, specifically Travis Garner-McGraw, derailed Greene Central's record-setting campaign on the soccer pitch Wednesday evening.

McGraw tallied a hat trick (three goals) and dished out an assist as the Cougars turned back the Rams 4-2 in opening-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A playoffs.

Greene Central (18-4-0 overall) lost a first-round postseason game for the fourth time in the last five years and fifth time overall since 2012.

Rams head coach Matt Gnau says the lack of recent playoff success comes down to "belief."

"For some reason, here in Greene County, we go into a game thinking we're not up to the caliber [of the opponent]," Gnau said. "They see it the first half and know that we can hang with them. It's just that belief to power through that seconnd half and finish the game off.

"I think that's the crucial part we need to work on."

Gnau put a short-handed team on the field against the speedier, possession-minded Cougars. Eduardo Gonzalez missed the game due to concussion protocol, a teammate sat out due to a red card and junior midfielder Alex Nunez missed most of the second half due to cramping issues.

Greene Central matched Croatan's intensity for the first 13-plus minutes after kickoff until Garner-McGraw punched in his first goal off of Andrew Padgett's assist.

Ulises Mora provided the equalizer in the 19th minute, a 30-yard chip shot that forced Croatan keeper Alex Erickson to come off his line. The ball sailed over Erickson's head and settled into the back of the net.

The teams entered the half deadlocked at 1-1.

Croatan (14-5-2) adjusted its offense, placed an extra forward up top and constantly generated attacks on goal. Around the 51st minute, Jacob Boucher broke free inside the 18-yard box and Rams goalie Nolberto Castillo couldn't completely corral a right-footed shot.

Garner-McGraw collected the rebound and tapped it in for a 2-1 lead.

"That's something we've been kind of dealing with," Gnau said. "My goalkeeper makes amazing saves and then little things like that end up going in, and that costs us. Once that goal went in, our heads went down a little bit.

"We got that goal back to kind of reinvigorate us, but we weren't able to keep that momentum."

Croatan increased its advantage to 3-1 on Hayden Crow's goal in the 54th minute. The Rams' Jose Morquecho answered with an unassisted strike in the 68th minute, but Garner-McGraw collected his hat trick with a goal in the 73rd minute.

Castillo finished with 10 saves.

Greene Central's senior class posted a program-best 18 wins this season and leaves with 59 victories overall. The group helped the Rams claim a share of the Eastern Carolina 2-A regular-season championship in 2018.

"My kids, great group of kids," Gnau said. "I couldn't ask for a better team. We played soccer the right way, that's what I really enjoyed. These kids know how to play soccer. They've learned through the system, how I like to play and what successful soccer looks like for GC."