MARINETTE, Wis. — Erika Malone scored two games and Brooke Bittinger added a goal and three assists to lead the Kingsford varsity girls soccer team to a season-opening 4-1 victory over host Marinette on Friday.

Maria Fornetti added the other tally along with an assist for the Flivvers, who are the defending U.P. champion.

Kingsford wasted no time in getting the upper hand, with Fornetti scoring off a corner kick by Bittinger just four minutes in.

“Brook’s a great corner kicker and (Maria) executed a perfect touch,” Kingsford coach Jon Lorenzoni said. “Lovely play.”

The Flivvers scored twice more in the opening half, one on a penalty kick from Bittinger after Malone drew a penalty in the box, and one by Malone.

Despite coming off a championship year, the Flivvers are a bit of an unknown entering the 2022 season.

“I really was not sure what to expect,” Lorenzoni said. “We have nine freshmen who saw their first high-school action. There’s lots of room for improvement, but I’m very happy with what I saw tonight.”