The Mike Kutcher era at Hough could not have gotten off to a better start.

Two goals in the first half, and two more in the opening ten minutes of the second downed the defending 3A state runner-up Hickory 4-0.

Kutcher, a former North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association 4A assistant coach of the year, took over the reigns this summer from David Smith who announced his retirement as the only soccer coach that the school had known.

Eight minutes into the match, the ice was broken.

Capy Suarez was credited with his first tally of the season via own goal. Off a 12th minute free kick, Brodie Dubiel quickly inflated the lead to 2-0.

In goal, sophomore Noah Parker and junior Matthew Zanger teamed up to post a clean sheet.

Parker was one of a handful of young Huskies who rose to the occasion in game one of the new year.

Lukas Patrignani headed-in a 35th minute goal and five minutes later, fellow sophomore Aayush Patel spun and fired in one of his own.

This weekend, Hough travels to Browns Summit to play Northern Guilford and Wesleyan Christian at Bryan Park in the NC Fusion’s annual jamboree.

Hickory, who was also breaking in a new head coach after former state champion Brian Jillings stepped down from the position in July, heads home on Thursday to host Lincolnton.

Source: highschoolot.com