McKenzie cautioned his players at the break to expect the Marty Akers-coached hosts to throw the kitchen sink at Port Hill in the second half and they did with two goals.
Port Hill's Katherine St Louis (twice), Phoebe Mason, Lynda Coldicutt, and Alena Jellyman got on the referee's scorecard for finding the net.
Lauren Hartridge (twice), Hayley Mortleman and Jarn McLellan scored goals for Marist.
McKenzie said the top division sides were catching up on their opening game because they were both on Federation Cup duties.
"You get that sometimes so we had to deal with it and it was a great fight," he said before facing Taradale AFC and Western Rangers in the league as must-win games to keep Marist at bay.
"Taradale are the only other side we've dropped points to this season [1-1 draw] so we have to win both games because Marist will win both theirs."
Akers lamented the loss of three key players as well as having two giants clash first up, albeit the luck of the draw.
"We shouldn't be playing on school holidays. It happens every year," he said, emphasising that Marist had 10 schoolgirls in the squad.
Even though names were traditionally drawn out of a hat, Akers felt Central Football should use the top two teams to create pools that would ensure the best teams got to the final, considering Port Hill's second division team had a bye.
Reflecting on yesterday's match, he said both teams played end-to-end footy and the better team got the result.
"Port Hill played really well and put their goals away," the former All Whites international said.