Photo by MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape Coral junior Sam Morreal (left) and Baker sophomore Monique Elliott jockey for position to control an overhead ball in Tuesday’s rivalry game at Dave Warkentin Field. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

Aside from some first-game jitters Tuesday night, the Ida Baker girls’ soccer team picked up right where they left off last season.

The defending District 4A-11 champion Bulldogs established dominance with two goals in the first 15 minutes on their way to an 8-0 victory over the Cape Coral Seahawks at Dave Warkentin Field.

“This is not what I expected,” said Seahawks coach Eric Lamboy. “With Baker coming in as district champs, I think our defense played like a deer in headlights out there.”

It took little more than nine minutes for the Bulldogs to score their first goal of the season. Sophomore Shannon Pearl fired a shot from a right angle that clanked off the post that rebounded to the foot of sophomore Monique Elliott waiting in front of the net.

A few minutes later, junior Brittney Herrera sent a rainbow pass over the defense which freshman Amber Hutchinson gathered up and blasted into the net for a 2-0 lead. By then, the shots-on-goal advantage for the Bulldogs was 9-2.

Juniors Autumn Yesh, Payton Van Horn and Herrera tacked on goals to claim a 5-0 cushion at halftime. The Bulldogs enjoyed a 17-3 margin in shots on goal and Seahawks junior goalkeeper Amanda Kopale already had made 10 of her 14 saves overall.

“We got off to a good start, but it’s good to get one game behind us,” said Bulldogs coach Dave Trepkowski. “The first game is always nervewracking not knowing what to expect, but I was very impressed with our play.”

Van Horn added a second goal in the second half along with one each by junior Jordan Goffar and freshman Fanny Farella. Goffar’s goal off a crossing pass from Elliott, who finished with one goal and three assists, ended the game six minutes early on the mercy rule.

“We just need some games under our belts,” said Lamboy. “We will regroup. We will be fine.”

The Seahawks (0-2) head to Port Charlotte Thursday for their third game in four nights.

The Bulldogs (1-0) play their first home game of the season Thursday night against Lehigh.

Mariner 8, Lehigh 0: Mariner opened the season with a shutout victory over Lehigh without allowing a shot on goal.

Rebecca Smith tallied three goals to go with two assists to lead the Tritons. Kaitlyn Souza, Ali Muro-Solis, Victoria Webb-Martin, Megan Fritz and Emily DiRoma each added one goal. Nicole Romano contributed two assists, as did Muro-Solis.

The Tritons (1-0) host Island Coast Monday.

North Fort Myers 16, East Lee County 0: Despite freely substituting and shuffling lineup positions, North Fort Myers scored early and often in beating East Lee County in half regulation time in the regular-season opening game for both teams.

Casey Gentile, Melinda Lukas and Darian Lefchewski scored three goals apiece with two from Kayley Quinn and Katie Abernathy. Single scores came from Tina Agostinelli, Hannah Hamilton and Jackie Puterbaugh.

The Red Knights (1-0) host Gateway Charter Thursday.

Boys Soccer

Mariner 4, Cypress Lake 1; Mariner 3, North Fort Myers 0: Jan Rincon scored three goals to lead Mariner past Cypress Lake in Tuesday’s early round of the Kelly Road Preseason Classic.

Frederico Martinez added one goal for the Tritons, who went on to top North Fort Myers behind single goals from David Steeb, John Teeter and Tim Thomas.

Matthew Brust played most of both games in the goal, stopping a combined four shots. Patrick Lewis and Josh Teeter were credited with stellar defensive efforts.

The Tritons open the regular season Monday at home against Island Coast.