PORT ORCHARD — The North Kitsap Vikings may be young and talented, but they’re still young.

On Tuesday afternoon, it showed against an experienced South Kitsap team that went to the state quarterfinals last season.

The Wolves took advantage of a young North Kitsap defense that was hampered by injury to score a 6-1 win in its first league game of the 2003 season.

Lauren Gehring and Randee Robinson each had two goals for South.

“We finished. That’s a big thing, because sometimes we don’t do that,” Robinson said.

The Vikings’ defense is where most of the team’s youth is concentrated, and one of the more experienced players, Kelli Gillespie, was just returning from a knee injury against South Kitsap.

“We have some things to work out in the back,” Ishihara said.

North Kitsap’s lone goal was notched by high-scoring forward Megan Hyte, who scored three goals against Wilson in the Vikings’ previous game.

South Kitsap head coach Eric Bergeson was wary of Hyte’s ability.

“If you give her any space at all, she makes you pay,” Bergeson said.

Hyte briefly eluded the Wolves’ defense in the 26th minute, took a pass from teammate Brenna Lander and fired it in.

Other than that, the scoring was owned by the Wolves (1-0 in league, 3-0), who had three times more shots than the Vikings.

Gehring scored the first goal of the game in the 7th minute from a cross by Robinson.

Two goals by Robinson followed, as did a second by Gehring and scores from Stephanie Solarek and Sami Stanton.

Assists were notched by Robinson, Gehring, Lauren Kruzner, Cassie Brown and Nicole Bussman, who had two.

Bergeson said the Wolves’ effort against North Kitsap (0-1, 1-1-1) was their best so far in the early season.

“Right away we were attacking, and that was promising. But you always need to get over the hump and score that first goal,” he said.

NOTES: The junior varsity earned a 3-0 win over Olympic Sept. 18 behind two goals from Sally Pryde and a 40-yard blast by Kari Shawcroft. Both Pryde and Shawcroft are captains.

South Kitsap 6, North Kitsap 1

First half — 1. South Kitsap, Lauren Gehring (Randee Robinson), 7th minute. 2. SK, Robinson (Lauren Kruzner), 13th. 3. SK, Robinson (Nicole Bussman) 17th. 4. North Kitsap, Megan Hyte (Brenna Lander), 26th.

Second half — 5. Stephanie Solarek (Gehring), 47th. 6. Sami Stanton (Bussman), 77th. 7. Gehring (Cassie Brown), 78th.