ZEPHYR COVE — In back-to-back home matches, the Whittell girls soccer team gave the largest schools in its league a big-time beatdown. The Warriors decisively downed Dayton and Fernley on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 13-14, to establish themselves as early favorites for the league championship.

“Coming into the games more aggressively and expecting not just the usual teams we play helped us get ahead,” Warriors senior Gigi Stetler said.

Whittell (4-1, 4-0 Class 2A) completed the two-day sweep with a 7-2 win over Fernley on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The Warriors took a two-goal lead into halftime, and broke away from the Vaqueros with three goals in four minutes early in the second half to continue an undefeated start to league play.

“Once we got possession, we were able to open up the field, make transitions and make our runs,” Warriors senior Madison Idso said. “No matter how good they were, they couldn’t stop it.”

Senior Ali Copsy opened the scoring in the fifth minute Wednesday, the first of her three goals in the match. Copsy’s second goal of the game — a left-footed finish across the net — put the Warriors ahead 3-0 in the 21st minute.

In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Whittell stretched its lead to 6-1 with goals from sophomore Madison Burch (46th minute), Copsy (49th) and sophomore Anna White (50th). Junior Gaby Trachsel punctuated the victory with a goal from 25 yards out in the 66th minute.

“We passed really well and that opened up the field more,” said Stetler, who finished with four assists Wednesday. “People are learning to open up and use the line, and that creates more opportunities.”

Fernley (1-1-2) avoided the shutout by scoring late in the first and second halves, with both goals coming on defensive breakdowns by the Warriors. Offensively for Whittell, Copsy had a hat trick and White scored twice.

“We were working the middle a lot more and not leaving that open gap,” Idso said of the second half. “Gigi would take the ball and spin it, and we would have this awesome shot — it worked out really nicely.”

A day earlier, the Warriors delivered a 7-0 home win over Dayton. White had four goals and three assists, and junior Taimani Hussey pitched a shutout as Whittell blanked the Dust Devils.

Copsy, Burch and sophomore Isabella Cibulsky added a goal apiece in Tuesday’s win. Whittell scored four goals before halftime and added three more after the break against Dayton (0-1-1).

“We’ve been doing so well overall this season and we thought we could bring it to the table again — and we did,” Idso said.

Wednesday’s win over Fernley marked a stretch of four matches in six days for Whittell to kick off league play. The Warriors return to action at home Tuesday, Sept. 20, against Yerington — kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.