The Lakeland High School field hockey team has demonstrated efficiency in its first two games of the season, the most recent of which was a 9-0 victory against Indian River High School in Wednesday’s home opener.

To begin the season on Monday against Great Bridge High School, Lady Cavaliers senior Summer Parker dribbled the ball down the field and scored in the first 15 seconds. Lakeland won 6-0 in the mercy rule-shortened contest.

On Wednesday, the Lady Cavs led 7-0 less than 20 minutes into the game.

“It’s really about the kids just making the right passes, being in the right positions, and that’s what they’re doing,” Lakeland head coach Tara Worley said.

Senior Alexis Albright, who registered a hat trick, said, “I think we played really well as a team, and our movement was really good.”

Indian River did not have a single shot on goal in the game, which was shortened by 15 minutes due to the mercy rule.

Senior Megan Smith got the scoring started less than six minutes into the game and ended up with two goals and two assists. Parker struck about six minutes later and Albright less than a minute after that.

Following this, Lakeland generated one goal apiece during the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th minutes of the game, coming from senior Jessie Cox, Smith, Parker and Albright.

Both Parker and Albright completed their respective hat tricks in the second half to round out the scoring.

Parker’s third goal was the 99th of her career at Lakeland. When asked how she felt about scoring it, she said, “Really good. I can’t wait for next game to get my 100th.”

The formation Worley has re-instituted for her team this year is offense-minded and stretches the defense to perform at a high level. Parker noticed the difference, citing an up-tick in the speed at which Lakeland is playing the game. She also said “we have more people up top so we have more options to pass out wide.”

While Parker is playing more of a center forward position, Albright is transitioning back to right forward after playing right mid-fielder in recent years.

Albright said, “Now I’m getting used to kind of staying up and running into the circle, instead of coming back to help all the time.”

“It just takes a little while sometimes for the kids to start to gel, even though it’s nine girls that have been playing together for the last five years,” Worley said.

“That’s why it’s actually kind of nice to have these games,” she said. “They kind of get the flow going again; they’re finding each other.”

“We wanted to come out strong and prove a point that we are going to do a lot better than we did last year,” Parker said.

Senior Kristen Vick had two assists on Wednesday, while Cox and senior Kasey Smith had one apiece.

Lakeland (2-0) visits Oscar Smith High School next Wednesday.