The resurgent Kahoks boys soccer team earned an easy victory Monday over Gibault, which had lost only twice entering the match.
Collinsville High School jumped on Gibault (11-3-4) barely four minutes into the match when senior midfielder Cody Sanftleben notched his first of three goals on the evening. The Kahoks did not let up, racing to a three-goal lead at halftime, before eventually winning 5-0.
Photo by Roger Starkey
Sanftleben’s hat trick, his first, ran his goal tally to five in the past four games. He had scored four goals in the previous 13 matches.
The Kahoks (1-3 Southwestern Conference, 7-9-1 overall) have employed an adjusted formation in recent matches, allowing the Kahoks to get more guys forward, Head Coach Myles Henlser said. Sanftleben’s position higher up the field has coincided with his assault on opposing goalies.
Hensler said Sanftleben is dangerous when he is going at the goal. “He’s got a great shot, he’s dangerous from within 30 yards,” Hensler said.
The victory was the third in Collinsville’s last four starts, their best run of the season. The success can be attributed to a better overall team effort, not any one person, Hensler said. “Cody and some of these other guys finding the back of the net are just in the right place at the right time,” Hensler said.
Two of the guys in the right place at the right time the last two matches are sophomore midfielder Luis De Anda and senior forward Alex Lamoreaux, who each scored their second goal in as many matches Monday.
Lamoreaux kissed home a rebound off a low, line-drive shot from junior defender Brendan Rosenburg to give the Kahoks a 3-0 lead heading into halftime. De Anda capped the scoring when he chipped home a left-footer with 30 minutes remaining in the game.
The five goals scored marked a season high for CHS. Hensler attributed the recent goal scoring success to the team’s effort, the adjusted formation and the recent personnel adjustments to allow some younger players a chance to play, and earn more playing time.
The easy victory may have caught some by surprise. In matches against common opponents entering the contest, Gibault was 3-0-2 while Collinsville was 1-3-1. Notably, the Hawks upended St. Louis University High 3-2 three weeks before SLUH downed CHS 4-0.
Defense was the key to victory, Hensler said. “Tonight was a perfect example of what they are capable of doing,” Hensler said. “If they can anticipate the next play, close guys down before the ball even gets there or read where it’s going next, it’s very effective.”
Collinsville will try to maintain its strong form in a 6 p.m. contest Tuesday at Kahok Stadium against Missouri powerhouse Vianney (11-2-2).
