DALTON, Ga. -- Lithia Springs, Dalton's opponent in a Class AAAAA state soccer quarterfinal match Saturday, had a chance to go ahead in the first minute when forward Joshua Morgan broke free from the Catamounts defense. His shot was saved by junior goalkeeper Samuel Fraire.
It would be the Lions' best opportunity of the afternoon.
Dalton, the nation's top high school team according to Maxpreps, built a three-goal advantage in the first half and cruised to a 9-0 victory to advance to the state semifinals. The Catamounts (18-0) will host the McIntosh/Greenbrier winner Tuesday evening.
Kiko Rodriguez had two goals and an assist as part of the attack that helped wear down the Lions (13-2-1), who had scored 87 goals in 15 matches coming in. They scored 20 in one match.
After Morgan's attempt in the first minute Saturday, they managed two other shots on goal.
"The way we pass and move the ball around, you can tell it frustrated them," Rodriguez said. "That's fun for us: They get mad and we just keep doing our thing."
He found Justen Macias for a goal in the fifth minute and headed in a throw-in by Hernan Saldana 11 minutes later. Kobe Perez added a goal before halftime.
The Catamounts, who are now 63-0-1 the past three seasons, poured it on in the second half with four goals in an 11-minute span, then two in the final two minutes. Churrui Huitanda had a goal and two assists, Javier Rodriguez had a goal and an assist, Isai Hernandez scored on a free kick and Gibby Perez and David Gabriel added goals for the final tally.
"The goals were evenly spread throughout both halves," Dalton coach Matt Cheaves said. "Maybe in a way, we demoralized them. We just want to score early, and as much as possible.
"It's up to the opponents how they handle that."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.