By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

PELHAM—The first few minutes of the April 8 “Border War” matchup featuring the Thompson Warriors and Pelham Panthers girls soccer team looked as if it could go either way; Thompson turned up the offensive pressure, and the Panthers matched with defensive intensity.

It was not to last, however, as the Warriors overpowered Pelham to take the 5-0 win.

The two squads came out firing on all cylinders, with Thompson pushing the Panther defense for all it was worth, with Pelham pushing back and clearing the ball out of the zone each time.

The first crack in the Panther defense came at 36:01 when Thompson’s Meghan Cottingham rifled a shot into the goal on an assist from Amber Harless.

The Warriors had a chance to add a goal at 29:26 when Mariah Poe took a shot that sailed over the goal. Just three minutes later, Harless scored off a corner kick to put Thompson up 2-0. Less than a minute later, Harless overshot the goal high.

Poe looked to have a goal at 12:04, but a huge save by Pelham keeper Brooke Thompson kept the Warriors at bay. At the 6:34 mark, Meghan Jones rang the post with a shot, but it bounced away from the goal.

In the final three minutes of the first half, the Warriors exploded for multiple goals. Poe took the first one off a rebound in front of the goal, heading the ball past Brooke Thompson’s outstretched arms. Poe scored again at the 1:09 mark, and Harless scored the final goal of the half with 17 seconds left to put the Warriors up 5-0.

Neither team scored again, and the Warriors took the 5-0 win.

“It’s great, we won the Border War trophy,” head coach Nathan Button said. “We did what we needed to do. I was excited that we could come out in the first half and play so well. To be able to come out tonight and get that win, we’re growing up.”

The Warriors move on to face Spain Park April 18, while Pelham will host Northridge April 17.