St. Aloysius’ boys soccer season got off to a hot start.

The Flashes scored five goals in the first 17 minutes and blazed past Cathedral 13-1 in their season opener Thursday at Balzli Field.

“We started out with our starting 11 and they just played lights out,” St. Al coach Scott Mathis said. “I can’t ask for anything more. The way they were moving the ball is exactly how we were practicing, communicating with each other. The seniors stepped up and led out on the field.”

Jorrit Willemsen and Connor Bottin led the Flashes with three goals and two assists each. Six other players also scored goals.

“We weren’t selfish with the ball,” Bottin said. “We gave each other opportunities.”
St. Al’s quick start gave it an insurmountable lead, and goals came in bunches. It scored three times in the first 11 minutes — including an own goal off a Cathedral player for the first tally of the game — and five times in the first 17 minutes.

By halftime the Flashes had a comfortable 7-0 lead. They added four more goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half.

“It was really exactly how I knew it was going to be,” Mathis said. “It was rather, how are they going to go out there and do it? That was what I was hoping for because our defense is considerably young, but they’re so strong and fast. I’ve got players that normally play offense that are back playing defense because they are stepping up for the seniors, allowing the seniors to play up and in their positions. I like to have players I can have in multiple positions. They’re not just stuck playing one position.”

Several players got their chance to shine throughout the game, with scores coming from Kieran Theriot, Justin Ehrgott, Gradon Bourne, Ryan Theriot, Luis Angel and Brandon Teller.

“There was nothing they weren’t doing,” Mathis said. “They weren’t shooting all the time. It was all passes, all good touches around the goal. They were communicating, and they were doing it all.”

The Flashes took five corner kicks, 11 shots on goal and goalkeeper Townsend Derivaux made seven saves. It was a positive step for what Mathis sees as possibly being a standout year for St. Al soccer. There are 15 returning players on the roster.

“We’re the best team I ever had,” Mathis said. “I’m proud of them. They really did well.”
Bottin was very confident in the team and has high hopes for the rest of the season, although he said the schedule is much tougher this year. The Flashes are in a district with three-time defending MAIS Class AAA champion Central Hinds, and face Class AAAA powers Jackson Academy, Lamar School, Jackson Prep and Madison-Ridgeland Academy in non-district games.

“We’re playing bigger teams,” Bottin said. “We still expect wins though.”

Mathis said he doesn’t have enough players to make up a junior varsity team, and he has brought two new players onto the team this year. The Flashes also have two foreign exchange students on the team, but according to MAIS rules only one is allowed to play at a time. Willemsen played Thursday, leaving Leo Diaz to watch from the sideline.

On defense the Flashes shut out Cathedral until edson Martinez scored 68 minutes into the 80-minute game. However, St. Al responded quickly by kicking in two more goals after the Green Wave got on the board.

“Defensively they’re just fast. They’re strong,” Mathis said. “It’s just the fact that they’ve never all worked together. There are some that leave their position, but with our senior keeper, he’s keeping them in check.”

On the night, Cathedral took two corner kicks and seven shots, and Edson Martinez made four saves in goal before moving into the field. Cathedral was missing four players who were away on college visits.

“That wasn’t a bad team, believe it or not. They were actually a pretty good team. He’s got six or seven good players, but we were just clicking. Everyone’s clicking and when they’re clicking it makes us look really good as a team,” Mathis said.