KNIGHTDALE - The varsity soccer team looked like an entirely new team in its 6-1 win over Wake Forest-Rolesville Wednesday afternoon, and with good reason.

There are only two returning players from last year's varsity team, and first year varsity coach Andrew Vaglio said the group is, for the most part, his junior varsity squad from last season. The 16-man roster is made up mostly of juniors and sophomores.

"That JV team was 10-3-1, so they're a very good bunch of kids -- hard working kids -- and for them to get a win tonight against the Cap-7, which is something Knightdale hasn't done in its five-year history, is awesome," Vaglio said.

The 6-1 win marked first for the Knights, who are now 1-6, but competition hasn't been a breeze in early, non-conference play. The team fell twice to Wakefield, twice to Enloe, once each to Millbrook and Middle Creek.

Jaymi Caballero hit Victor Torres for the first Knightdale goal of the afternoon and the team never looked back, capitalizing on nearly every look it saw in front of the Cougar goal.

Torres returned the favor to Caballero for the second goal minutes later and then assisted Alvaro Mackinley for the third goal of the game. Assisted by Mackinley, Muhammed Jammeh found the net for the fourth and final goal of the first half.

The Cougars' only goal came from senior Drew Ammons in the second minute of the second half when it became obvious the visitors were not pleased with their first half performance. The team held the Knights quiet for a good portion of the period but the home squad overcame the pressure.

Caballero continued the cycle of returning the favor on a one-touch to Mackinley before Roy Robinson found Jammeh on a throw in for the final goal of the game.

Despite the five losses the team took before earning its first taste of victory, Vaglio said the team has worked through some tough situations and Wednesday's win is evidence they aren't going to give up.

"I hope this win gives them the confidence to boost their morale and play hard in-conference," he said. "That's what I hope, is that it's something they can use as a stepping stone. It's important that it happened right before our conference opener against Smithfield-Selma."

The Knights face the Spartans in that conference opener today (Wednesday) at 6:30 in Smithfield.

"As long as they can build on it and continue to work hard, I think it will be a huge positive for us in the long run," Vaglio said.

As far as the win being evidence Knightdale is filling in with athletes and catching up to those other, long-standing programs, Vaglio said he thinks it's a good credit to the local parents, but also the parents around East Wake who started the East Wake Soccer Association, that the area is picking up in soccer.

Looking forward, Vaglio sees good things for Knightdale. He said the Knights might not be a powerhouse in the future, but the team's performance is a sign the team will be a soccer program to contend with.