WAKE FOREST, N.C. – 19 matches. 19 wins.

Franklin Academy’s high-octane offense left no doubt in a battle of 2A conference champions. The Patriots defeated Clinton 9-0 in their regular-season finale thanks to Kayla Rice’s first-half hat trick.

Four minutes into the match, Rice fired a shot from 25 yards out that laced the back of the net. Seven minutes later, a throw-in set the junior up for her second of the day.

Rice made it 3-for-3 in the 27th minute when she put a dazzling move on a defender and struck a left-footed laser for a 3-0 advantage. She is now up to a team-leading 31 goals on the season.

Lydia Rogers got in on the fun on her Senior Night with a 29th-minute tally to inflate the score to 4-0.

Late in the half, Audrey Keith muscled a deep throw-in that led to an Audrey Probasco goal.

Franklin Academy led 5-0 at the break, and picked up second-half goals from Probasco, Olivia Olarte, Libby Burrows, and Bella DeLisio to secure its fourth 9-0 win in its last five matches.

The Patriots (19-0) enter the postseason having outscored opponents 119-7.

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