The varsity soccer team, number two in the Metropolitan St. Louis area in preseason rankings, started off with three victories.

“We’ve got a good team. Good defense,” keeper Nick Johnson said about the 10-0 win over Barat Academy.

Forward Josh Gwaltney scored four goals total against Barat.

“My teammates saw me open,” Gwaltney said. “I took the ball and scored.”

“Everyone seemed to be scoring in that game,” forward Jake Hellweg said.

The win against Barat gave the team confidence. The team also beat Marquette 6-3.

“That was a big win. They’re ranked number four,” Gwaltney said.

Down 3-2 at the half, the forwards stepped up, scoring four goals.

“We left it all on the field,” keeper Alex Helbig said.

Winning the Ft. Zumwalt East tournament with a 7-0 victory against East was a moment when the boys knew they could be the best.

“I feel that we’re under ranked this season. We beat Chaminade last year,” Hellweg said.

The team plans to prove the ranking wrong by the end of this season.

“We will be number one,” Johnson said.

The team lost to Howell Central, 5-4, because of penalty kicks Sept. 5.

“The only hiccup so far this season is a shootout loss to the rival, Howell Central, where the team played well enough to win,” Coach Mike Enright said.

In the Francis Howell District tournament, Sept. 7, Howell defeated Mehlville 4-0. Continuing the tournament, Sept. 8, the team beat Hickman 8-0.

Howell defeated Timberland Sept. 10 at the home opener. After 25 minutes on the field, forward/midfielder Mark Majewski scored the first goal. With 9:49 left in the half, midfielder Kyle Breckenkamp gave the team a greater lead. Forward Jordan Stephens scored off of a penalty kick after the start of the second half. Shortly after Stephens, Majewski scored his second goal of the night leaving Timberland to a 4-0 loss.

“We play best when we play together,” defender Jake Hudzinski said.

The next game occurs Sept. 13 at Troy.