APEX — Six different Cougar players, three in the first period and three in the second, scored goals as the Apex girls' soccer team rolled to an easy 6-0 win over Knightdale on Wednesday night.

Knightdale was without leading scorer Kaitlyn Eckert after Eckert suffered an ACL tear in the season finale and lacked their usual offensive threat.

The numbers tell the story. Apex out-shot Knightdale (7-7-1) by a 24-2 margin as the Lady Knights had trouble just getting past midfield.

"We're coming in to a really tough conference. Any seed that you play in the Tri-Eight is going to be a really tough game," Knightdale coach Jeff Deal said. "We just couldn't get enough possession in the midfield to get that pass behind their defense."

Scoring first in the tenth minute for Apex was senior Lauren Nisbet on an assist by Shelby McLaurin. Junior Angie Funari put home the game's next goal from just outside the nine-yard box thanks to a good cross by Leah McCann in the 27th minute.

In the 38th minute, junior standout Jessica Jackyra — who had four goals in a senior night game against Lee County in the span of 11 minutes — put the Cougars up 3-0 before half. Nisbet recorded the assist.

Apex scored the next three goals in the 59th, 68th and 75th minute as Paige Purcell, Laurin Thompke and Amanda Warner each netted goals.

Next up for Apex is arguably the best team in the state, still-undefeated CAP-7 champion Leesville Road (18-0-3).

"Our contests over the past few years, particularly the past three years, has really developed into such an intense rivalry," Apex coach Kevin Todd. "They've had the upper edge the past three games since we beat them in the [East regional final] to go to the state title."

The two teams met on April 16, and the Pride got the upper hand in that one with a 2-1 win.

"When you have the kind of rivalry we have with Leesville, the opportunity to give them their first loss in almost two years, you take that for what it is and that's a big motivator," Todd said. "Our girls won't have any trouble getting motivated for Leesville."