A shorthanded Wildcats men’s soccer won in dominating fashion on Monday. The team showed true colors in the rather warm early fall day in Town and Country. A display of a total team effort and people stepping up to fill the shoes of those out were clearly seen. The team was without multiple key players including striker Liam Lloyd, right back Aidan Kline, and star center back Tyler Hott.

Last season, the Wildcats lost to the same Pattonville squad 2-0 and with so many missing pieces it would not have been a shocker had the result looked about the same. This is a peek into what this team has the potential to be and it was an exciting one. The team never settled with how many goals they had, keeping the drive and intensity of getting the ball into the box up the full 80 minutes.

Four minutes into the game, Junior Ben Van Zee was given a nice through ball pass and tucked it away with his left foot. The Wildcats came out with no fear and played with an offensive style that makes watching them play so much fun. It was only 1-0 at the half, but the team held the ball for the majority of the game with many good chances to keep adding on.

Five minutes the second half, Pattonville netted one off a corner kick rebound. Before the 47th minute arrived, senior Mike Lemp sent a beautiful ball into Sophomore Cooper Edgecombe who passed it to a wide-open Van Zee for his second of the game.

Later on, in the 71st minute, Sophomore Caleb Legters struck a ball off a defender that found its way into the net. The Wildcats had a commanding lead with under ten minutes to go. A little lapse in effort in the waning seconds as Pattonville scored a meaningless goal with four seconds remaining.

All in all, it was a solid game that shows a glimpse of the future and there are bright spots. One of these was Mike Lemp playing defense and working himself into the offense with his crosses from the left-wing. Another was fellow captain senior Danny Sacco, leading the team from the center midfield position. Not to mention at the top, a lethal tandem of Van Zee, Lloyd, and Edgecombe. This team plays with pace and ferocity and they could end up going on a nice run, possibly turning some heads in the process. They’re currently ranked ninth in Class 3 in the State.