By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
Freshman Camilo Garcia scored three goals and assisted on another as the Topeka West boys soccer team earned an 8-0 United Kansas Conference win over visiting Basehor-Linwood on Tuesday night at Hummer Sports Park.
The host Chargers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, with Morris Blick finishing off a deflected shot attempt to put Topeka West up 1-0 less than one minute into the game.
The Chargers’ attack continued to apply pressure to the Bobcats’ defense, but goalkeeper CJ Pate continued to turn away attempt after attempt.
Topeka West finally broke through in the 29th minute when Diego Gonzalez-Talavera’s cross found a wide-open D’Ante Smith Dilone’ on the opposite post, who took advantage of the golden opportunity to put the Chargers up 2-0.
Garcia would begin his career night in the 33rd minute, scoring his first goal of the evening off a pass from senior defender Jafet Rodriguez to extend the Charger lead.
Garcia added a second goal in the same minute, finding the back of the net from a pass by classmate Neko Juarez.
The Chargers continued their offensive surge in the 37th minute, with Garcia facilitating fellow freshman Valentin Del Real’s goal to put Topeka West up 5-0, a lead the Chargers would take into halftime.
Topeka West attempted 29 shots in the first half, with 20 coming on goal.
The second half started almost as quickly as the first, with Giancarlo Valenzuela finding Gonzalez-Talavera in the center of the box to give the Chargers their sixth goal less than two minutes into the second half of play.
With the Chargers still dominating control of the ball, Garcia finished off his hat trick with a strike set up by Gonzalez-Talavera, giving the sophomore his second assist of the night.
In the 56th minute, Valenzuela decided to get in on the scoring, taking a pass from Jacob Corwin and launching a long-range shot into the back of the Bobcat net, putting an end to the match.
Topeka West took 40 shots in the contest, with 26 being on target.
Gonzalez-Talavera led the offensive output with nine shots, while Smith Dilone’ had seven attempts.
Pate recorded 18 saves in net for the Bobcats.
Despite the dominant performance, Topeka West coach Josh Kutter wants his team to always keep their guard up.
“We’re working on staying focused one game at a time,” Kutter said. “No matter who we’re playing against, we need to be playing our best soccer.”
With Garcia leading a group of seven underclassmen in the starting lineup, Kutter feels optimistic about the Chargers going forward.
“(Garcia has) always been a very talented player coming in for us, and he’s part of a very talented group,” Kutter said. “Expectations for those guys is just keep working hard, keep doing what they’re doing, and they’re going to do big things.”
Topeka West will have a short turnaround, playing city rival Topeka High on Thursday at Hummer Sports Park.
The Trojans, winners of nine straight, pose a challenge, but Garcia embraces it.
“We just have to train and rest,” Garcia said. “That game is going to be a tough game, but we should be able to win.”
TOPEKA WEST 8,BASEHOR-LINWOOD 0
Basehor-Linwood (0-9-0) 0 0 – 0
Topeka West (5-2-0) 5 3–8
Topeka West -- Goals: Blick, Smith Dilone’, Garcia 3, Del Real, Gonzalez-Talavera, Valenzuela. Assists: Gonzalez-Talavera 2, Rodriguez, Juarez, Garcia, Valenzuela, Corwin.
