By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.newsst
Coming off a breakout 13-4-1 campaign last fall, Topeka West boys soccer picked up where it left off Tuesday at Hayden, opening the 2025 season with a 7-0 romp past the Wildcats.
Sophomore forward Camilo Garcia scored the first two goals on Tuesday at Hayden as Topeka West rolled to a 7-0 season-opening win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I think they played a style that we all know their capable of and that they are comfortable with,'' West coach Josh Kutter said of his team. "So, by them playing their style and not changing their style to anyone else's style, I am really happy about that. They played their game.''
The Chargers scored the only goal they would need at the 35:17 mark of the opening half on a shot from sophomore forward Camilo Garcia and Garcia made it 2-0 with his second goal a little over five minutes later.
Junior forward Diego Gonzalez-Talavera had a goal and four assists on Tuesday at Hayden in Topeka West's 7-0 season-opening win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior forward Diego Gonzalez-Talavera put West up 3-0 at the 24:50 mark of the first half and junior forward Henry Miller gave the Chargers a commanding 4-0 halftime advantage with a shot with 7:09 left before the break.
Miller opened the second-half scoring 9:03 into the period with his second goal and the Chargers added goals from senior midfielder Giancarlo Valenzuela and sophomore midfielder Valentin Del Real down the stretch to close out the non-league victory.
Gonzalez-Talavera was credited with four assists on the day while senior Morris Blick and sophomore Neko Juarez also picked up assists and senior Gage Kindred Noragon registered the shutout in goal for the 1-0 Chargers over the 0-1 Wildcats.
"This puts us mentally in the right spot and that's a conversation we're having throughout the season is the mental toughness and focus on what we have to do in our heads to prepare for games and seasons,'' Kutter said.
TOPEKA WEST 7, HAYDEN 0
Topeka West -- Goals: Camilo Garcia 2, Henry Miller 2, Diego Gonzalez-Talavera, Giancarlo Valenzuela, Valentin Del Real. Assists: Diego Gonzalez-Talavera 4, Morris Blick, Neko Juarez. Shutout: Gage Kindred Noragon.
