When the Woodland Hills girls soccer team played host Saturday to North Allegheny, the teams agreed to play four, 20-minute quarters instead of the traditional 40-minute halves.

What was the reason behind the switch?

The new format was meant to provide more rest to Woodland Hills, which had just 12 players on its roster. There was a short break after each quarter.

"They had 35 players," first-year Woodland Hills coach Mike Kennedy said. "By the end of the game, they had kids who didn't even break a sweat. We were dead."

The result was predictable: a 9-0 North Allegheny victory. It was the second consecutive lopsided defeat for the Wolverines, who opened the season with an 8-0 loss to West Mifflin.

Woodland Hills (0-2) was scheduled to start Section 3-AAA play yesterday by playing host to Kiski Area.

It's been far from an ideal start for Kennedy, a former Wolverines assistant and longtime youth soccer coach, who is a head coach at the high school level for the first time.

"It's exciting," said Kennedy, 48, about his new position. "But I'd like for us to be doing better."

Kennedy didn't learn until Aug. 20 that he would be taking over a Woodland Hills team that finished 3-14 overall and 2-12 in Section 3-AAA in 2007.

He inherited an inexperienced group that is few in numbers and consisting primarily of first- and second-year players.

"It's been really challenging so far because of the [few] players we have," Kennedy said.

Kennedy has been assisted by Charles Howell, who coaches soccer for the Woodland Hills School District at the junior-high level.

"We've had to teach everything from the beginning," Kennedy said, "from dribbling and passing and kicking the ball the right way all the way to doing crosses, covering and defending.

"It's been a lot of work. We need a lot more practice."

Among Kennedy's most-experienced players is senior goalkeeper Olivia Valenti, a three-year starter.

"She's been pretty solid at the position for us," Kennedy said.

But Valenti also has seen playing time at midfield during the first two games this season.

"It's something different we've tried," Kennedy said. "Olivia is a good field player, and it's allowed some younger girls to get experience in goal."

Valenti isn't the only player who's played more than one position. That's been the case for most of the Woodland Hills roster.

"I have a lot of newer players," Kennedy said. "I'm not really sure where to put them yet. I've been moving them around for that reason."

Other top returnees and newcomers for Woodland Hills include junior Moriah McCullough, sophomore Colleen Kennedy, the coach's daughter, and freshman Kristina Dague.

As the season progresses, Kennedy will look to add more players. He hopes to have his roster increased to 16 players within the next couple of weeks.

"I didn't have enough time or notice that I was going to be the head coach to go out and recruit more," he said. "I have a really small team at this point.

"We have no JV roster this year because of our size. I've had the school make some announcements. I'd like to pick up some players along the way.

"I hope we can get to the point where we're more competitive."

But Kennedy admits that could be difficult. For starters, the rough beginning to the season already has affected his team.

Then, there's the matter of playing in what Kennedy has a called a much-tougher section, where Franklin Regional, Oakland Catholic and McKeesport have been replaced by Fox Chapel, Hampton and Highlands.

"It's hard," Kennedy said. "I've had to get on them. I've told them we need to try and improve and get more competitive.

"It's been a challenge."

And one that Kennedy knows could very well last all season.

"I hope, somewhere along the line, we upset somebody and get some wins," he said. "But we could go 0-20."