The Kenai Central boys soccer team opened up its season with a 7-1 loss to West Valley at The Dome in Anchorage on Thursday in the season opener for both teams.

West Valley scored four times in the first half and was leading 5-0 in the second half before Leif Lofquist scored for the Kardinals. Lofquist picked up the ball in the box on a corner kick for the goal.

“It was a good early game to get a chance to play in,” Kenai Central head coach Shane Lopez said. “I’m excited to see where we’ll be when we get the rest of our team back. It was a good chance for the younger guys to get a taste of high school soccer.”

Lopez said it wasn’t like West Valley spent the whole game pounding at Kenai’s goal. He said the Kardinals were able to advance the ball up the field but had trouble with West Valley’s counterattack.

Lopez said Travis McKinley was solid at defense, while Tucker Vann and James Baisden did good work in the midfield. Travis Verkuilen also had a solid game.