The Cashmere Bulldogs continued their SCAC dominance Thursday night, cruising to an 8-0 victory over the Kiona-Benton Bears in a match that ended in the 62nd minute due to the WIAA mercy rule.

Despite the lopsided scoreline, the match featured gritty play from both sides. The Bulldogs, ranked first in the SCAC, were tested early by the ninth-place Bears, who showed resilience even while trailing throughout.

Cashmere wasted no time setting the tone. In the third minute, sophomore midfielder Peyton Irelan served a perfect cross into the box, finding fellow sophomore Melanie Mallonee for the opening goal. The lead doubled in the 16th minute as senior Erin Irelan made a blistering run down the flank, finishing a precise pass from senior Anna Flick to make it 2-0.

The Bulldogs would break the match wide open before halftime, thanks to a dominant stretch from junior forward Gwen Ledesma. She completed a hat trick in just 11 minutes, scoring in the 28th, 35th, and 39th minutes to give Cashmere a commanding 5-0 lead at the break.

Despite the deficit, Kiona-Benton continued to fight, pressuring the Cashmere midfield and back line after halftime. But the Bulldogs responded with increased intensity and precision.

In the 55th minute, sophomore Makelah Gatens got on the scoresheet with a well-timed run and finish. Just four minutes later, sophomore Brynne Patrick added another to push the lead to 7-0. The final blow came in the 62nd minute, when senior Alyssa Soria capped off a beautiful combination play with Patrick to deliver the game-ending goal.

The win moves Cashmere to 7-0 in SCAC play and 7-1 overall. It also marks their second straight road win, with three more away matches ahead. The Bulldogs will look to continue their unbeaten run in league play next Thursday as they travel to Zillah (4-2 SCAC) to close out the first half of the SCAC season.