Apex, seeking its fourth state title in as many years, wasted no time in building a quick lead before settling in for a 14-0 rout.

The Cougars needed 1:03 to find the net, but buried the host Catamounts with three more goals in the early going, pushing the lead to 4-0 just 3:01 into their 2010 season opener.

Apex coach Jennifer Flaherty, who made her debut as coach of the Cougars, said she was pleased with how quickly her team adjusted to playing under the lights for the first time this season.

"It was definitely nerves," Flaherty said. "Whenever you play a game under the lights it's a big adjustment because we practice under the sunlight. But then we calmed down and I was very happy with it."

Her team's problems playing under the lights were short-lived. The Cougars added six more goals to take a 10-0 lead with more than 15 minutes remaining in the first half. Seven players accounted for Apex's first 10 goals.

Flaherty said she feels confident in her team's ability to pick up the slack left by the absence of its top player from a year ago, Courtney McLaughlin, who now plays for UNC.

"As much as I miss her, we had kids step up," Flaherty said."We have new kids who have never played before who showed up to play and I was very happy with it. McLaughlin is a big loss, but we have girls to fill the void."

In the opener, no player did more to pick up that slack than McLaughlin's younger sister, Katie, who scored three goals to lead the way for the Cougars. Katie was one of nine Cougars to score at least one goal.

After scoring 10 goals in the game's first 10 minutes, the Cougar offense slowed down the rest of the way. Apex added four more over the first half's final 15 minutes before focusing on possessing the ball in the second half, as the 14-0 score at halftime did not change in the second half.

Panther Creek coach Peter DeStaebler said he was proud of the adjustments his team made defensively after early difficulty containing the Cougar offense.

"The adjustment was great," he said. "We have some new people on defense. We graduated two seniors last year so we have a bunch of new people on defense. We also have a couple starters missing tonight. It just took them a while to get used to playing with each other."

Despite the one-sided loss, DeStaebler said his team will have plenty to take away from playing an opponent of Apex's caliber.

"When you play the best, you can only get better," DeStaebler said. "Our girls hustled for the whole game and that's all you can ask for. They didn't give up. They know the caliber of competition. We're in a very difficult conference."

Flaherty said she too was impressed with the effort the Catamounts put forth despite falling into such a large hole at the game's outset.

"They have girls who know how to play and they have brand new girls who do not," Flaherty said. "It's just hard, but they played their hearts out." Moving forward, Flaherty said her team will focus on adding to the seniors' collection of state championship rings.

"I think any coach has that goal of winning the state title," Flaherty said. "As long as the girls are having fun and no one gets hurt, that's my big thing. But yes, the state championship is a goal. Rings are nice."