The Rochelle Hub varsity soccer team was in full control on both offense and defense Monday evening, when the purple and white hosted LaSalle-Peru in Interstate 8 play.
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ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Hub varsity soccer team was in full control on both offense and defense Monday evening, when the purple and white hosted LaSalle-Peru in Interstate 8 play.
Senior forward Alberto Casillas recorded a hat trick with three goals and one assist for the Hubs, who scored three times in the first 10 minutes and rolled over the Cavaliers 7-0. Senior midfielder Fernando Diaz found the back of the LaSalle-Peru net in the first minute, giving Rochelle (7-7-1, 2-2 Interstate 8) a 1-0 advantage before a corner kick from junior midfielder Heilly Zepeda led to another Rochelle goal, this time from senior midfielder Bryan Garcia.
“We pressured them hard right off the bat,” Zepeda said. “We moved the ball a lot and we were able to keep possession and score more goals. We wanted to get the ball off our feet quickly. We have a good squad and we feel that we’re strongest in the middle. We have good forwards.”
Casillas cashed in the first of his three goals early in the first half, winning a one-on-one ball inside the LaSalle-Peru box before sending a right-footed shot into the goal in the 11th minute. Trailing 3-0, the Cavaliers worked hard to retake possession of the ball, but the Hub defense allowed only a few shots on goal during the opening half. With junior goalkeeper Antonio Hueramo commanding the back line, Rochelle recorded its fifth shutout of the season.
“We were more comfortable stepping up on defense,” Hueramo said. “We weren’t going up and trying to win the ball in our last few games, but we were watching their through balls today and I thought that helped us a lot defensively. We have a good squad, but we have to stay strong mentally. I thought we played with confidence today and that confidence helped us win.”
The Hubs carried their three-goal lead into the second half, where Casillas and junior forward Antonio Ruiz worked together on a pair of goals to put Rochelle ahead 5-0. Casillas connected with Ruiz in the 55th minute, rolling a pass outside of the box that Ruiz hooked beautifully into the back of the LaSalle-Peru net. Ruiz returned the favor in the 65th minute, kicking a pass through the middle of the Cavalier box that Casillas finished for his second goal of the night.
Casillas completed his hat trick in the 70th minute, heading in an assist from sophomore defender Alexis Ortega. Rochelle iced its win with its seventh and final goal after senior Chris Castellanos came off the bench bashed in a right-footed shot off an assist in the 72nd minute. Rochelle will return to action with an Interstate 8 home match against Ottawa on Wednesday.
