HAMPTON – Nansemond-Suffolk’s soccer season got off to a hot start Tuesday afternoon versus Hampton Christian.

For one, it was hot and humid enough just standing on the sidelines, let alone racing up and down the field.

But two, and more importantly, the Saints blitzed the home-standing Warriors, 9-0, with a hat trick by Stephen Lee leading the NSA scoring.

It took three minutes for NSA to get on the board.

Matt Davies won the ball at the midfield stripe as HC was attempting to clear the ball and relieve the constant pressure NSA already had them under.

Davies dribbled past two HC players and then let a shot go from 35 yards out; the ball short-hopped the HC keeper and skipped into the net.

About five minutes later, Lee began his goal scoring thanks to fine passing from a couple teammates.

Steven Turner broke down the right flank and sent a pass into Chris Fisher at the top of the HC box, Fisher then sent a soft pass into Lee, who was running in on goal, and Lee easily placed his shot past the keeper, who had come out off his line.

Lee got the next one for the Saints as well.

After a brief HC chance in the NSA end, the Saints counterattacked with Davies lofting a pass from midfield over the last couple HC defenders so that Lee could sprint on to it.

Lee took it down the center of the box and again slipped a controlled shot by the keeper.

Goals by Fisher, Jim Hassell (with a Fisher assist) and Jeff Kelsey rounded out the first half, giving NSA a 6-0 lead.

Sophomore keeper Jacob Branchaud didn’t have much to do in goal in the first half, so he played forward to start the second half and Hassell took over in the net.

Branchaud scored the first goal of the new half eight minutes in, off an assist from Robert Winslow.

Lee completed his hat trick a few minutes later, thanks to another Davies assist; and goal number nine came from Ian McHorney off an assist by Ben Auteri.