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Nikiski coach Jim Coburn wanted his team to play as many games as they could this season, even if it meant squaring off with some of the state's best.

So far he's getting his wish.

Having already lost to Northern Lights Conference Northern Division favorite Colony and drawing with Wasilla, the Bulldogs gave undefeated West Valley a scare early Thursday before allowing six unanswered goals in falling 7-1 in nonconference action at Nikiski High School.

"Oh, I wanted a team like this," Coburn said. "I think playing a team with their skill level only makes you better. They're a big school, we're a small school and we have a good group of boys. That was a good training lesson for them today to play a team like this."

It worked out for the Wolfpack, too.

West Valley coach Howard Maxwell credited Nikiski with providing his team only their second bout of adversity this season when the Bulldogs knotted the game at 1 in the seventh minute on a goal by Josh Hall.

"We were under a little adversity for the first time. Back home we've been leading every game and we haven't allowed any goals," Maxwell said, adding it was just the third goal they've surrendered all season in improving to 7-0-2 during their chase for a third straight state-tournament berth. "That got us a little fired up. One of the things is this is a regulation-sized field and we've been playing on a lot of football fields. I didn't feel like we were using the space properly.

"So in the second half we kind of had an emphasis on moving the ball quickly and trying to move it from side to side, changing the ball quickly. Also with a little more intensity having given up the goal."

Maxwell may not have thought his team was utilizing the extra space in the first half, but the Wolfpack still responded under the pressure.

Senior Nick Herzberg, who opened the scoring in the second minute of play on a rebound after Nikiski keeper Jordan Harrison made a dazzling diving save, netted his second of the contest and staked West Valley to a permanent lead when he ran through a chipped ball in the box and slipped it past Harrison just three minutes after the Bulldogs' tying goal.

"West Valley's a very skilled team, the best team that we've played this season," Coburn said. "We made mistakes and when we did West Valley took advantage of it, that's the game."

Senior Asa Seymour, who along with Herzberg wreaked havoc on Nikiski's defense all afternoon, made it 3-1 in the 35th minute and Herzberg then picked up a hat trick just before halftime when he took a pass from Luke Carson and booted it by Harrison for a commanding 4-1 edge.

"It seems like they had to score on us once before we really got going and woke up. I wish we would have started a little quicker," Coburn said. "But, I mean, my boys, they played hard 'til the very end. Even when they were down ... they didn't quit. They played hard right 'til the whistle."

Speaking of whistles, referees issued five yellow cards, one which resulted in a soft red for a player's second yellow, during the chippy match between two competitive squads.

"A game like that, if the referees don't control it with cards, then it just gets worse," Coburn said. "And we don't want that. That's not soccer."

Nikiski, which is 2-5-2 overall and already qualified for regions, opened the second half with a strong rush that was denied and the Wolfpack later capitalized at the other end with Chad Stuart converting on a penalty shot and Patrick Evans and Nicholas Joehill each finding the back of the net for the 7-1 final.

It could have been worse, though, if not for Harrison's stellar play between the pipes, including a one-handed diving save on a rip by Antonin Novak in the 75th minute.

"He made some great saves. He had a lot of pressure obviously on him today. That's Jordan. Jordan doesn't quit," Coburn said. "Sam Taylor, if it wasn't for Sam back there at sweeper, we'd have got scored on a lot more."

He also said Wiley Bennett, Calvin Williams, Walker Boyle and Beau Calderwood stepped up for the Bulldogs, who hope to get another shot at the Wolfpack.

"That would be great because that would be at the big time. That would be state if we see these guys, I'm sure," Coburn said. "But we've got a long road to go to get there.

"At the beginning of the season, I wanted as many games as I could get because practice only does so much. You've got to have the game experience," he added. "We're going to get more this year than we've ever had. Hopefully it shows at regions."

West Valley girls 7, Nikiski 0

Six different players scored for the Wolfpack, who controlled most of the game but played with just 10 players after a Nikiski player was issued a red card for a hand ball inside the 18-yard box.

"West Valley was a real classy act," said Bulldogs coach Mandy Adair, whose team fell to 1-5-1 on the season. "I think we came out and fought hard. We knew it was going to be a really tough game for us. We were missing a lot of people again.

"People were playing in positions they've never played before," she added. "I think we did well trying to react to what they had."

Jill Phillips struck first for West Valley in the fourth minute of action before Malia Simpson and Julia Mackey tacked on goals in staking the Wolfpack to a quick 3-0 lead.

But Nikiski's defense promptly clamped down, as did freshman goalie Koey Dixon, who made a great save from her knees midway through the first half.

"Our goalie's really stepping up and she's learning on the fly," Adair said. "We're tweaking little things each game but she's improving leaps and bounds every game."

Jenna Powers added a goal in the 34th minute for a 4-0 lead at the break and Jamie Sawchuck, Shelby Solomon and Mackey all scored in finishing off Nikiski, which had a couple of scoring chances from forward Hillary Bogard.

"Hillary worked hard up there," Adair said. "When we went down a player, we were just playing one forward and so it was pretty much up to her to start any opportunity we were going to get. So, I think she did a great job filling an entire half of the field all by herself."

Soldotna girls 1, Palmer 0

Jessi Stenga scored early in the first half on an assist from Emily Rohloff as the visiting Stars notched a NLC victory on Thursday.

Head coach Mike Tovoli said the defense of Shana Powell, Erica Byerly and Kelsey Van Antwerp did a great job.

"We changed formations and the midfielders also did a nice job," Tovoli said after improving to 4-3-1.

Soldotna boys 4, Palmer 0

Blaine Carver had a hat trick as the visiting Stars cruised past the Moose in NLC action.

Soldotna, which also received a goal from Anthony Griglione, improved to 4-2-2 overall.

Ketchikan boys 3, Skyview 1

The visiting Kings struck for three goals in the first half on Thursday to pick up a nonconference victory.

Brad Lapp scored 14 minutes into the second half on an assist by Austin Tennis.

Skyview coach Dave Carpenter, whose team is now 1-6 overall, said his team played well in the second half, but came out flat in the first half.

Ketchikan girls 5, Skyview 1

Hannah Hutchison scored the lone goal for the host Panthers on Thursday in a nonconference loss.

Skyview coach Rustin Hitchcock, whose team is now 0-6, said Jessica Stewart did a good job in the midfield and Bailey Walgenbach anchored the defense, fighting through a minor injury.

Homer girls 4, Houston 0

The Mariners owned a 2-0 lead at halftime and held on for a Northern Lights Conference victory over the visiting Hawks.

Holly Dickson opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Molly Warburton made it 2-0 only 10 minutes later.

Emma Laukitis and Danilee Stapel added tallies in the 42nd and 65th minutes, respectively, for Homer.