It’s been an up-and-down start to the season for the Valley Central girls’ lacrosse team.

After opening their season with a 12-goal win over the Highland Huskies, the Vikings lost both their games last week, finishing with a 16-5 loss to the Warwick Wildcats on Thursday morning at Valley Central High School in Montgomery in their first league game of the season.

The last time the Vikings saw the Wildcats was when their season ended last year, as the Vikings were beaten, 21-8, in last year’s Section 9 Class B semifinal. Warwick eventually went on to win the championship.

The Wildcats scored the game’s first six goals before Lorena Rivera got the Vikings on the board.

Rivera scored three goals and Kiera McPhillips added two. Valley Central goalkeeper Madison Roszkowski made 10 saves.

Kiera Larney led the Wildcats with five goals and one assist and Skyler Blanton added three goals and two assists. Kaitlyn Larney scored three goals. Stephanie Malota had two goals and Keira Mangers had a goal and three assists. Maggie Nelsen and Kelly Nevins had a goal each. Brooke Sullivan added a goal and two assists.

Lily Mahoney made five saves.

The Vikings opened the week with an 11-10 loss to the James I. O’Neill Raiders.

They come off last season’s 11-3 season with a strong set of returning players, including McPhillips and Rebecca Sibley, who both entered the season 15 goals away from 100. McPhillips is a senior and Sibley is a junior.

Also returning are Rivera, midfielder Mackenzie Delmonico, attacker Brianna McPhillips, defender Chloe Santangelo, defender Natalie Benincasa and Roszkowski. New players include defender and midfielder Grace Del Pilar, defender and midfielder Rilee Kinsley and defender and midfielder Ally Rivera.

“We have a young, energetic team with a strong desire to win,” Valley Central coach Brooke Axelson said. “I have high hopes for this team and can’t wait to see how the season plays out.”