CHESAPEAKE – King’s Fork’s improved boys soccer season took another step in the right direction Tuesday night when the Bulldogs started their Southeastern District schedule with a 3-0 win over Deep Creek.

Two nights later, Indian River delivered a big blow to the Bulldogs. The host Braves scored four goals in each half and outshot the Bulldogs 43-4 in an 8-1 district victory.

King’s Fork (3-2-1, 1-1-0) still has a winning record overall, and it’s early enough in the district slate, with seven SED matches still to go, for the Bulldogs to keep the goal of reaching the postseason by finishing in the top four of the Southeastern. After an 8-1 loss however, head coach Mark Parsons wasn’t sugar coating how much his Bulldogs have to change from Thursday night.

“We’re a good team, but this was obviously not our best game,” Parsons said.

“We’re going to have to work on getting our possession down and we’re really going to have to strengthen up our defense,” said KF’s coach.

Parsons gave lots of credit to Indian River as well. The Braves’ Richie Duffie and Devon Fisher scored two goals each in the first 32 minutes to give IR a 4-0 lead.

“Hats off definitely to Indian River. They have a very good team all the way around. They have a lot of speed, talent and skill,” Parsons said.

One of the lone highlights of the night for the Bulldogs were the last few minutes of the first half.

For most of the first half, the Bulldogs tried to play with five midfielders and one forward, but Indian River’s possession and attacking usually kept seven or eight KF players pinned in or close to KF’s penalty box.

As the half continued, KF did a better job challenging in midfield. In one stretch of better passing by KF, James Albright forced a Brave foul in the middle of the field, about 40 yards from the IR goal.

Freshman Kyle Beckett took the free kick, driving his kick into IR’s box. Joshua Spivey passed across the box to set up Albright. Albright put away a 14-yard shot with his right foot, making it 4-1 IR.

The Bulldogs couldn’t keep the positive play going though. Indian River put the game out of reach right out of halftime, scoring 0:31 into the second half. The Braves kept going with three more goals in the next 19 minutes.

KF goalie Corey Jefferson finished with 22 saves.

“I said at the half, when we play with consistent possession and build our attacks, we can play with anyone,” Parsons said.

KF has district road tests again next week, starting Tuesday evening at Great Bridge.