The Collinsville High School boys soccer team cruised to victory Wednesday at Kahok Stadium, knocking off the Highland Bulldogs 4-0.

Senior midfielder Brandon Belobraydic in action against Highland on Sept. 4. / Photo by Roger Starkey

The Kahoks (2-1-1 overall, 1-0 Southwestern Conference) dominated play from the beginning, reducing freshman goalkeeper Brett Niedzwiecki to a spectator for much of the match. Even after many of Collinsville’s regulars were on the bench, the Kahoks continued to pepper Highland’s (1-4 overall, 0-0 Mississippi Valley Conference) freshman goalkeeper Luke Jones.

Head Coach Myles Hensler replaced many of his starters halfway through the second period, getting them much-needed rest ahead of their Thursday contest at Christian Brother’s College High School, the defending Missouri large school (Class 3A) state champions. The game will be the third in three days for Collinsville.

The resting regulars gave others a chance to prove themselves in a game situation. “Some of them did very well tonight and surprised me with what they were able to do,” Hensler said.

The Bulldogs came into the game on the wrong end of a 14-2 total goal tally on the season. After the first half, the deficit had increased by two, with Collinsville leading 2-0.

Sophomore midfielder Luis De Anda scored the first goal of the game – and his first of the season – at the 8:34 mark. Junior midfielder Grant Bauer followed 10 minutes later with his fifth goal of the season. Bauer struck from distance, beating Highland’s freshman goalkeeper Luke Jones.

Bauer wasted little time adding to the Kahoks’ lead in the second half, scoring on another long goal 1 minute , 27 seconds into the half. Jones made the initial save on the shot, but the ball bounced up and over his head. Before Jones could spin around and corral the ball, it had skipped across the line for Bauer’s sixth goal of the season.

The two goals gave Bauer five in the Kahoks’ last two games. His scoring touches Wednesday may have been as much luck as skill.

“Obviously tonight his goals weren’t as quality as they were last night, but as a goal scorer, a goal is a goal,” Hensler said. “He knows that they weren’t quality goals tonight, but he even said, I’ll take what I can get.” After the second goal, Bauer looked around the field in disbelief, barely bothering to celebrate his strike.

Senior midfielder Cody Sanftleben capped the scoring with another long goal. Sanftleben beat Jones to the left side on a shot from 30 yards. The win avenged a 3-2 loss at Highland last year.

The Kahoks next play at 6:45 Thursday at CBC.

Goals: Luis De Anda (1), Grant Bauer 2 (6), Cody Sanftleben (2)

Assists: Luis De Anda (1), Jared Hamann (1), Cody Sanftleben (3), Austin Reineger (2)