The King’s Fork High School girls’ soccer team was not challenged in its home game on Tuesday against Phoebus High School. But the Lady Bulldogs were still able to do things during the mercy rule-shortened 11-0 rout that will prepare them for challenges lying ahead.

“Our main focus is that the girls really try to implement some of the tactics that we’re working on in practice,” King’s Fork coach Mike Marston said.

He wanted to adjust some things on offense to make his team a little bit more unpredictable.

During the game’s opening stages, Marston said, he instructed his players on the bench that when they entered the game, they should use only one or two quick touches before passing the ball, letting the ball do the work.

“I was happy with the way we moved the ball after the first 10, 15 minutes,” Marston said.

When playing a weaker opponent like the Lady Phantoms, he said, he also pushes a slightly different objective when it comes to scoring.

“We really don’t want any low-quality goals,” he said. Instead, he wants his players scoring off tactics and correct player and ball movement.

On Tuesday, seven different Lady Bulldogs scored. Two goals came from senior Benicia Lovely.

“They were her first two goals of the season,” Marston said. “She also had two assists.”

Junior Emma Marston also supplied two goals, as did freshman Ashley Bido and sophomore Cydney Nichols. Freshman Hannah Marston, sophomore Rebecca Washburn and junior Carlee Morse each scored one goal.

King’s Fork (9-1, 3-0) entered its contest against host Hickory High School on Wednesday with excitement, knowing what is at stake.

Coach Marston said if the Lady Bulldogs win the game, “For all intents and purposes, we’re going to win the Southeastern District.”

They will still need to defeat visiting Oscar Smith High School on May 14, but the Lady Tigers have struggled this year and are not expected to pose a challenge like that of the Lady Hawks.

Marston said this is the first time a Suffolk girls’ soccer team has ever been in the position to win the district.

“It’s that next big milestone for us,” he said.

Star sophomore center defender Skylar Wall has been out due to an ankle injury, but she is expected to return to the field next week.

“Skylar being out has really been a little bit of a blessing in disguise,” Marston said.

Wall helps cover some of the Lady Bulldogs’ weaknesses with her strong play. With her absent, “we see more readily what they need to work and improve on,” the coach said.

Next week, King’s Fork will visit Heritage High School on Tuesday, Tabb High School on Wednesday and host Oscar Smith on Thursday.