The Kokomo Wildkats opened the 2024 season with a solid performance, defeating county rival Western by a final score of 5-1. The Wildkats controlled the tempo and possession early, and held the Panther attack in check for most of the first half, allowing only one shot and shutting them out on the scoreboard. The Wildkats started to threaten after the quarter hour with a few chances created in the Panther defensive third, but it was not until junior midfielder Esteban Diaz’s well placed first time shot in the lower right corner put the Kats up 1-0. The first time shot just outside the 18 in the 20th minute of play concluded the scoring in the first half. In the second half, the Kats turned up the heat on the Panther back line. Diaz’s through ball led senior captain Ben Herrera into space just outside the penalty area. Herrera beat his mark and touched the ball past the goalkeeper who took him down in the box. Moments later, Herrera notched the first goal of his senior campaign from the penalty spot for a 2-0 Wildkat lead. Moments later, senior midfielder Henrique Alvarenga De Oliveira notched his first tally of the season when he intercepted a pass in the Panther defensive third, dribbled past two defenders and slotted home the third Wildkat goal of the night. The Panthers responded one minute later to close the gap to 3-1 when the Wildkats failed to put pressure on the Panther midfield, and their center forward scored off a rebound. Six minutes later, however, a Panther handball in the box resulted in a penalty kick which senior forward Javier Carrera finished for his first goal of the season. The final tally came with less than 12 minutes left when sophomore Braedyn Booker passed to junior Arthur Barbosa on the right flank. Barbosa crushed the first time shot into the top right corner for the final margin of victory. Junior Alan Lopez held the Panthers scoreless in the first half and recorded one save, while senior North Muannara recorded four saves in the second half while allowing one goal. The man of match is junior midfielder Esteban Diaz. The Wildkats (1-0-0, 0-0-0) travel to non-conference foe Maconaquah Tuesday.