AHOSKIE n Ridgecroft School got the playoffs started off with a bang.

The Rams netted four in the first half and added two in the second as they knocked off Cape Fear Christian Academy 6-0 in the opening round of the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 1-A soccer playoffs here Friday afternoon.

The Rams, seeded sixth in the 1-A bracket, entered the contest 10-7-2 overall and made quick work of the visiting number 11 seed.

Hanes Joyner tallied the first goal when he scored an empty net goal at the 26:57 mark of the first period.

Just four minutes later, senior Chris Hill tallied the first of his four goals on the afternoon when he received an excellent pass from Josh Morris and redirected it into the net to put the Rams ahead 2-0.

Hill then scored on a header on Morris’s corner kick at the 14:52 mark of the first half to push the Ridgecroft advantage to 3-0.

The Rams kept the ball in their opponents territory the entire opening half and Hill found the back of the net again with 9:12 to play in the half when he took a loose ball and scored to make it 4-0 at the intermission.

Hill and Evans Jones each scored in the second half as the Rams emptied their bench to allow everyone minutes in the playoff atmosphere.

Second-year Ridgecroft coach Aaron Martin was pleased with the way his team moved the ball during the outing.

“I thought we did an excellent job of passing today,” Martin said. “The kids were all looking for each other. The movement off the ball was good.

“I wish we could have cranked the intensity up a notch, but I feel like we’ll do that Tuesday when we go to Gaston Day,” he added. “We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with when we travel west.”

The Rams will have to head to Gastonia on Tuesday for a second round matchup with third seeded Gaston Day School.

While realizing the Rams have to play hard to advance, Martin is pleased with where his team is right now.

“Last year we peaked early,” he said. “This year we have played more consistently. We had a little dip, but we’ve picked it back up.

“We’ve put together four or five matches in a row now with at least spurts of good play,” he closed.