DE QUEEN, Ark. — The No. 13 Pearl River men's soccer team began the 2023 season with an impressive showing against Cossatot Friday evening, rushing past the Colts to pick up a 7-0 victory. 

"I thought we were very patient. We did a very good job of being patient, which isn't something we've had a lot of time to work on with our style of play," head coach Drew Gallant said. "It just picked up from last season and also because of the type of players we brought in that naturally fit into our system. Defensively, we were great. We gave up only two shots on goal for the day."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Four minutes into the game, Christopher Dommer (Copenhagen, Denmark; Øregård Gymnasium) picked up right where he left off in his freshman campaign. Joel Morales (Gulfport) dished off to Dommer, who dribbled a few yards forward, found some space, and unleashed a rocket on his weak foot from 15 yards out into the back of the net.

Ian Graham (Meridian; Biloxi) picked up his first Pearl River goal in the 10th minute. Noah Fazal (Værløse, Denmark; Gladsaxe Gymnasium) had a shot saved that rebounded out to Graham. The freshman smashed the ball into the back of the net off the bounce to make the score 2-0.

Jason Irias (D'Iberville) made the most of his first appearance on the field since the 2021 season. Fazal saw him making a run between the defenders and chipped a ball through the air to the sophomore. Irias opted to smash the shot home on the volley to make the score 3-0.

In the 60th minute of the evening, the Wildcats were fouled and earned a free kick about 28 yards away from the goal. Dommer stepped up to take the kick, and despite the Cossatot wall being in front of him, he smashed a ball into the right side of the net and past the diving keeper for his second of the day.

The 70th minute saw Fazal pick up his first goal. After PRCC earned a penalty, the freshman stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball into the back of the net, 5-0. 

Daxx Dodson (Gulfport) scored with goal-of-the-year potential in the 75th minute. On a long throw into the box, UAC's goalkeeper rushed out and punched the ball away. A deflection sent the ball Dodson's way, and with his back to the goal, he flicked a ball over his head and into the back of the net to make the score 6-0.

"Daxx is the only player that scores that goal," Gallant said. "It was a second chance ball. He knew the keeper was out of the box because he had punched the ball. He just tried to get something on frame and got it into the net. It was impressive."

Morales rounded out the scoring for Pearl River in the 78th minute as he was fed a pass from Dodson, moved about 20 yards from the goal, and mashed a shot past the diving Colts goalkeeper, 7-0.

"Joel looks great right now. He's a flashy player, but he's doing all the hard work stuff," Gallant said. "That's what was missing from his game, and maybe being out last year has driven him more to become a complete player."

UP NEXT
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. against former Wildcat assistant coach Diego Figueroa's National Park squad.

"We have a really good opponent tomorrow in Diego and National Park," Gallant said. "We've already seen him play once and know that his team is very organized and very talented. We expect a top-25 level opponent tomorrow."

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