NICHOLASVILLE — It was only the first shot of the game, but it might as well have been a knockout punch to the Mercer County girls.

Any hopes Mercer had of upsetting defending state champion West Jessamine took a serious hit when the Titans gave up a goal on the Colts’ very first shot Wednesday night.

West Jessamine scored 2:10 into the 46th District girls soccer final, and Mercer never mounted a threat in a 4-0 loss on a soggy East Jessamine field.

Mercer (6-10-2) was unable to West Jessamine (15-2-5) from rolling to its seventh consecutive district title. The Colts have won all 15 games against the Titans since a 2012 realignment put them in the same district, including three meetings this season by a combined score of 15-1.

It was just 2-0 at halftime, but Mercer had managed only two shots in the first 40 minutes. A shot by Allysa Howard in the 20th minute was saved by West Jessamine goalkeeper Anna Rexford, and another by Abby Dean in the 36th minute missed the mark.

The Titans did not get another attempt, as they were outshot 10-0 in the second half and 24-2 overall. Mercer goalkeeper Savannah Prigmore did all she could, saving seven shots on goal.

Morgan Pence scored from 20 yards for West Jessamine on the first shot of the game and again on a penalty kick in the 38th minute.

The Colts struck quickly in the second half as well, as Caroline Absher scored just 61 seconds in. Sophie Bish capped the scoring in the 61st minute with a bomb from about 30 yards, and West Jessamine started pulling its starters from the game soon afterward.

Both teams will play in the 12th Region Tournament next week at Boyle County. Pairings for that tournament will be drawn Friday.