The DeKalb Middle School Saints took to the field last week for their first ever regular season game for the new boys’ soccer program. While the girls’ team played in the fall and struggled through their season with lack of experience and playing time, the boys’ team is showing that some veterans of the rec leagues can play at the school level.
The team’s first regular season game, scheduled for Mar. 4 at White County, had been cancelled, so the team’s first game occurred on Mar. 10, on the road against Smith County.
The first half of the match started off quick with Smith County scoring a goal within the first two minutes of play. The 1-0 score remained until about five minutes before halftime, when Cristobal Flores came away with the Saints’ first ever goal during a regular game. The Saints would go into the half, tied 1-1.
In the second half, Flores struck again, scoring two more goals, one from a penalty kick. Alec Reynolds also got in on the action, coming away with three goals of his own. The Saints took 47 shots at the goal, while Goalie Omar Aldino came away with 11 saves for the team. The Saints took an impressive 6-1 win, getting the victory in the program’s first ever regular game.
A JV game was also played that day with the Saints winning 2-0. Omar Aldino and Alan Munoz took the goals in that game.
"It felt really good to get our first win," Coach Justin Nokes told the Review. "All our hard work paid off. We were tied in the first half and I told them we could beat this team and come out with a win with some hustle. That’s exactly what we did and I was very proud."