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HOUGHTON -- Prior to the season, Michigan Tech Huskies soccer coach Melissa Kuhar felt that scoring was going to be something the Huskies would need to do by committee, and that the team was going to need to figure it out quickly.
Wednesday, it took the team less than 30 seconds to show that they are listening.
Sophomore midfielder Reilly Lovercheck booted a rebound into the net and the Huskies rolled offensively from there, unofficially earning Kuhar her first win with the Black and Gold.
"Definitely for us, it's my want and desire (to have) quick starts," Kuhar said. "We want to come out fast. We want to come out hard. I can't get mad about a goal 30 seconds in."
Lovercheck struck twice as part of an eight-goal onslaught from the Huskies' attack. Six different Huskies found the back of the net over the course of the afternoon. Meanwhile, the Huskies only gave up one goal to the Lewis Flyers at the same time.
"We've had two days of preseason before today, so we definitely worked on things," said Kuhar. "I can't say anything bad about what just happened there. That was fun. We really had worked on our defense. That was really what our focus was, and, I think, (we were) solid, only giving up one that I don't think we probably should have given up."
Kuhar was pleased with how effective the Huskies were offensively.
"Our offense clicked," she said. "It's cool to get to see what we have out there. We're still tweaking. I did mix lineups, and I did things to put different people in different spots, just to see what I have. I'm still learning them, but I can't get mad with that result."
The Flyers play the type of offense, in terms of ball possession, that Kuhar wants her Huskies to play, so getting a chance to see them this early into the season was beneficial.
"Lewis is a good team, and they will only get better," she said. "The scoreline doesn't tell how good a team is. They're a good program, and they play in a really tough conference.
"I'm very familiar with it (as it is) my former school, but this is a team that allowed us to kind of see a level of play that's very high, that we need to maintain and stay at. We have to meet that level. I think today we did it, but that has to be consistent, meeting that level, game in and game out."
Fifth year midfielder Kiersen Korienek scored twice in the first period, as the teams battled through three 30-minute periods, rather than two 45-minute halves. In the second period, sophomore midfielder Marissa Wentland scored twice and senior forward Taylor Noble also found the net.
Kuhar loved what she saw out of Korienek playing in between Lovercheck and Pietila in the first period.
"She's a workhorse, right? She's a fifth-year. She's been around the program for a while. She gives energy and effort. She works her butt off, and that helps bring energy to the attack," Kuhar said. "(She) brings very dynamic runs and different things like that (that) help us, help everyone as we try to go forward. Today she had a game. She was definitely a player that did exactly what we asked of her and more."
In the third, senior forward Julia Pietila also scored, along with Lovercheck's second tally.
What was important to Kuhar is not that the Huskies struck as many times as they did, but rather that they took advantage of their opportunities.
"In soccer, you could only get two opportunities, and you have to score them," she said. "That's just the game today. We definitely took advantage. All of our goals weren't pretty. They were scrappy, hardworking-type goals, which is the mentality I want our group to have, hard work and that effort."
Junior keeper Bri Barrows took advantage of the opportunity she was given in goal, and she held the Flyers to just one goal on the afternoon. Junior Ludesha Reynolds was not active at game time, but Kuhar expects both to be in healthy competition as the season opener gets closer.
"Bri, right now, is our only goalkeeper that's active, but, that'll be a healthy competition when the two of them go," Kuhar said. "No one's position is set in stone yet. We're still working through things, but she (Barrows) did well. This is one of her first games playing in a while, actually playing, so I think, for what it was, she did what I needed her to do back there."
UP NEXT
The Huskies return to scrimmage action Friday when they host Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 4 p.m. at Kearly Stadium in Houghton.