For a team that had succumbed to the mercy rule five times this season, the Santa Fe Catholic girls were overjoyed on Monday.

LAKELAND — For a team that had succumbed to the mercy rule five times this season, the Santa Fe Catholic girls were overjoyed with an 8-0 win Monday night in their Class 1A, District 9 opener against Kissimmee New Dimensions.

It won’t get any easier today when the Hawks travel to undefeated Lakeland Christian (17-0-2) for a second round game at 7 p.m.

Forward Summer Williams, who scored a career-high five goals for the Hawks, gave all the credit to her teammates.

“We just work together so well,” said the sophomore who has a trio of three-goal games this year. “Teamwork is key to this game.”

Williams got the first goal of the match from five yards out in the fourth minute and finished the game on a 20-yard breakaway with 19:24 remaining.

“I couldn’t be more happy for this group,” said second-year coach Allen Langford. ”We’ve improved every year.”

Langford said the team has gone from 28 total goals last season to 50 this year and, after winning only four matches last season, has surpassed that by two wins.

“I’ve seen improvement in every area of our game,” he said. “The toughest part about this year was playing a tougher schedule. We stepped up to playing some bigger school programs.”

As for the Monday victory, Santa Fe (6-14-1) had pressure on the New Dimensions all night. Barely did the ball get into the Hawks' half of the field. The winners played without their top defender, Melanie Howard.

New Dimensions (1-13-0) had forward Ilana Alvarado alone with the rest of the side bunched in like a zone defense on the Hawks’ end. The strategy didn’t play well and a more skilled Santa Fe took advantage with shot after shot at goalie Alondra Torres.

Senior Maddy Werd added two goals and sophomore Olivia Hancock connected for the other score. Williams now has 13 goals and a pair of assists Werd had eight goals and a pair of assists.

With nine sophomores and five freshmen on a squad that features only two juniors and one senior, Langsford said he sees more future success.