The beat goes on for the Rock Island boys soccer program.
The Rocks recently opened their home schedule at Almquist Field by thumping Geneseo 4-0 to record their third straight win and improve to 4-2 overall.
“We started at the (Quincy Notre Dame) Tournament and went 1-2, but saw a lot of what we needed to work on,” Rock Island coach Darrick Kent told the Dispatch-Argus. “We have really been working hard on our timing and gelling as a team.”
After losing several seniors from last year’s team that advanced to the sectional finals for the first time in school history, the Rocks knew maintaining that momentum might take time.
“We had to build chemistry and that can take a little time,” senior forward Fredy Zetina told Dispatch-Argus. “As we have played games and practiced together, we are starting to see what we can do. I really think we will be a strong team, even as good as or better than last year’s team.”
Geneseo coach Harvey Norton said he doesn’t see much of a difference between last year’s squad and the one his team faced.
“They are fast and athletic,” he said. “They put a lot of pressure on you all over the field and never stop attacking.”
Owen Beltran got the Rocks off and running against Geneseo, taking a pass from Zetina to score the opening goal five minutes into the game. Isaac Almanza’s score just before halftime gave Rock Island a 2-0 lead at the break.
Zetina notched his own score in the second half and Patrick Bilengyama later closed the scoring.
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