The Kokomo Wildkats opened their season at home and lost to county rival Western 3-1 Saturday night. The Panthers created several dangerous attacks in the first half, but the Wildkats held until the 29th minute when the Panthers put a rebound shot into the goal off of one of their six corner kicks of the half. Although the Wildkats held the Panthers under ten shots on goal for the game, they surrendered three goals in the final eleven minutes of the first half to go down 3-0. The Wildkats played with more aggression and fire in the second half and limited the Panther attack. The Kats’ Pedro Figueroa Alonzo, a junior striker, notched the first goal of the season and cut the Panther lead to 3-1 with 16 minutes left in the match, but Western held on, turning away a few dangerous shots at the end of the match. With three saves on the night, including a tremendous one versus one with a Western forward, senior keeper Ethan Landrum is your man of the match. The Wildkats (0-1-0, 0-0-0) will have to learn, grow, and rebound quickly as they travel to Maconaquah Tuesday, host county rival Northwestern Thursday and visit Muncie Central to open conference play Saturday.