It’s possible to have a better start to the season, but the Free State High girls soccer team would be hard pressed to outdo its opening-day performance Tuesday.

The Firebirds (1-0) kicked off their 2003 campaign by scorching the nets and Topeka Highland Park, defeating the Scots, 10-0.

The game ended because of the mercy rule in the 29th minute of the second half on a sweeping kick from FSHS senior Meredith Mayo, who finished with three goals.

“It’s obviously nice to get a win. Our kids were exited to play,” Free State coach Jason Pendleton said. “It’s certainly better to get off to a winning note than a losing note.”

Free State junior Rebekah Berkley got things started early by scoring less than two minutes into the game. She registered another goal six minutes later.

And then the floodgates opened: In a 71¼2-minute span, the Firebirds scored four goals.

Senior Celese Siebert launched a long kick that found the net in the 27th minute.

Two minutes later, Mayo knocked the ball in about 10 feet from the crease.

Freshman Meghan Bock scored in the 23rd minute, junior Elizabeth Winter got on the scoreboard three minutes later and the rout had begun.

Mayo had her second goal of the day in the 13th minute with a short blast to the net.

Junior Emilie Humbarger and senior Kim Begert closed the half with short-range goals.

Free State's Celese Siebert, top, has her shot covered by Topeka Highland Park's goaltender. The Firebirds claimed a 10-0 victory Tuesday at Free State.

By the time the dust settled at halftime, Free State led 9-0.

And while the FSHS offense took flight, the defense kept the Scots (0-1) grounded, hardly allowing any movement into the Free State side of the field.

“We like to put high pressure on and make teams predictable but whether we can do that later on remains to be seen,” Pendleton said.

In fact, the majority of the game was played within a 30-foot radius of the Highland Park net with wide-open passing lanes and room for the Firebird forwards to roam and create goal-scoring opportunities.

Despite the final score, Highland Park coach Mike Boyer was proud of the way his team, despite being largely composed of inexperienced freshmen and sophomores, came out and fought.

“This is the best-spirited team I’ve had in five years,” Boyer said. “They hustle. They have a good attitude and they work hard.”

Pendleton knows the competition will only get tougher with numerous teams within the Sunflower League standing high in the state rankings, but he’ll take the opening win.

“We’re going to play some incredible teams down the road,” he said. “We know we have some challenges that we’ll have to overcome.”