Emporia High soccer coach Angel Cornejo didn’t know where his offense would come from going into his team’s opener against Junction City.
The Spartans provided their coach an answer on Friday at TRYSA: Everybody.
Emporia opened the season with a 9-1 victory, and five Spartans scored. Jesus Saldana, Agustin Armenta, Yonathan Pachacano and Jared Schafer all had two goals apiece, and Saul Trujillo also had a goal and four assists.
“During practice we do a lot of drills to build chemistry,” Saldana said, “and I guess we proved it tonight that we have some chemistry.”
The Spartans played an unselfish brand of soccer, as evidenced by the number of players who scored. Last season, the offense was built around Alex Guevara, who was a first-team All-State selection.
“I really don’t have that guy to go to,” Cornejo said. “Yesterday during practice, I was asking the kids that someone had to step up and be the Alex from last year, and I think all of them did. I had a lot of Alexes today.”
The Spartans used to funnel everything through Guevara. But with Guevara no longer on the team, the Spartans have evolved into a team that tries to move the ball and doesn’t care who scores.
Emporia dominated possession, but not one player dominated control of the ball. Instead of trying to beat the Blue Jays with fancy moves, the Spartans passed the ball and rarely dribbled for more than a couple of touches.
“That’s our goal, give and go,” Cornejo said. “We’re just trying to play good, old-fashioned soccer where you give the ball and move.”
Saldana got the scoring started in the 12th minute with a rocket from outside the box that went into the upper-left corner of the goal.
Saldana was the Spartans’ most active offensive player, and had a part in all three of the first three goals. In the 17th minute, he crossed the ball to Pachacano, who kicked it in out of the air.
Saldana, who was playing in his first varsity game, put Emporia up 3-0 with his second goal in the 25th minute.
“Before this game I didn’t know what to expect from the forwards, the offense and I was surprised in the first five minutes when we were just attacking, attacking,” Cornejo said. “I had a good feeling about the game, and after the first goal, the kids got more confidence and they started scoring and scoring.”
Trujillo got his second assist when he sent a free kick into the box and Schafer scored on a header to give Emporia a 4-0 lead at half.
Trujillo scored his only goal on a penalty kick in the second half that put Emporia ahead 6-1. Trujillo spent most of his time facilitating as the center midfielder and his passing was a big reason why everyone got involved in the scoring.
“It’s just sharing the ball, not ball-hogging,” Trujillo said. “I think we played as a team pretty good and made our goals.”
The Spartans had plenty of opportunities to score, outshooting the Blue Jays 28-1. Junction City scored on its only shot of the game, a breakaway goal by Braxton Chase in the 69th minute.
The goal was one of the few times Junction City moved the ball past midfield.
“I knew that we were going to have a good defense,” Cornejo said. “I knew that we were going to have a good midfield, but offense was a little shaky. I didn’t know how it was going to turn out, but I guess we’ll see the rest of the season how it goes.”
So far, so good.
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