OIL CITY - Eisenhower needed a couple of minutes to shake off the first game jitters, but when it did it was all Knights, all the time.
Jake VanHouten started his senior season with a four goal night and the Knights (1-0) scored eight goals overall in an 8-2 rout of Oil City Tuesday at Oil City Area High School.
"We started four freshmen today and things were definitely a little shaky at first," said veteran Knights coach Mike Decker. "We're a young team and I think we have the ability to get better each and every time out."
Tuesday's match was played in a driving rain, but it did little to slow down Ike's potent attack. The first goal of the season came 13 minutes into the year when VanHouten scored the first of his goals on a pass from freshman Josh Eernisse. Seven minutes later, Christian Hefright - another freshman - netted his first varsity goal to make it 2-0.
After the Oilers scored on a header off a corner kick, Ben Perkins was able to respond with a goal to make it 3-1. Perkins' goal came just hours after he delivered a top-five run for the Knights' victorious cross country team.
Coming out of the locker room, Decker put together a set play and the Knights needed just nine seconds to make it 4-1. Andy Decker provided the assist on VanHouten's second goal of the evening. Four minutes later, it was Decker doing the scoring on Eernisse's second assist.
Decker scored Ike's sixth goal unassisted and VanHouten added to late goals to cement the victory. Mike Anthony assisted on VanHouten's third goal and Perkins on the fourth.
Freshman goalkeeper Casey Vincent made six saves in his first start.
The Knights will try to start the campaign 2-0 Thursday when it plays Corry in its home opener.