STANHOPE — After suffering its first loss of the season in the 2-A/3-A Big East Conference tournament last week, Southern Nash couldn’t wait to get on the field again for the first round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs Monday.

The Ladybirds weathered a pair of lengthy weather delays before finally dispatching Big East rival Franklinton 5-0. Southern Nash (19-1-1), the No. 3 seed in the 3-A East bracket, will host No. 19 West Johnston (13-7) in the second round Tuesday.

The Ladybirds, who fell to Roanoke Rapids 1-0 at home last Wednesday, May 11, didn’t score until late in the first half, following a pair of lightning delays that added up to a 90-minute delay.

“They put 10 people in the box and I think they were just trying to see if they could get it to the second half tied,” Ladybirds head coach Robbie Kennedy said of the 30th-seeded Red Rams (9-11).

Charlotte Benson broke the ice with a goal before Emory Gibson added another goal to make it 2-0.

The Ladybirds added another goal by Gibson, who also had an assist, as well as scores by Amber Patterson and Citlali Rangel.

Goalkeeper Dahlia Romero didn’t face a Franklinton shot in the shutout.

Southern Nash, which won its first conference title and has set a school record in wins