SALISBURY — Mooresville shut out Salisbury, 5-0, in boys high school soccer action Thursday evening at Ludwig Stadium.

The loss was the first this season for the Hornets, now 3-1-1. The 4A Blue Devils, now 4-1, led at halftime, 2-0.

“We ran into a superior team,” said Salisbury coach Matt Parrish. “They were a faster and stronger team that we were and much deeper. If we play that team 10 times, we might win one.”

Parrish said that one of Salisbury’s top defenders, Pedro Cruz, fell ill during the game and had to come out. The score was 2-0 at the time and without Cruz, the Hornets gave up three more goals.

“If there’s a positive, it’s the fact that we had a 1-0 game 30 minutes into the match,” said Parrish. “So that’s something to learn from and build on.”

Mooresville also won the jayvee game, 8-1.

Salisbury returns to action on Monday evening at home, hosting A.L. Brown in a jayvee-varsity doubleheader.