ROCHELLE — Tough losses against Kaneland and Sycamore made the Rochelle boys soccer team think more about where they want to take their season. The Hubs certainly showed their aspirations during their convincing performance against Plano on Tuesday.

Behind seven combined goals from senior Max Torres and junior Brayan Orozco, Rochelle dominated the Reapers 9-0 and improved to 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the Interstate 8 Conference. Despite missing their two primary goalies (Alexis Quintanilla and Jarret Milan), senior Austin Brown stepped away from the midfield and recorded the shutout in net.

“We started thinking that we really want to do something this season,” Torres said. “We don’t want to win and lose games. We want to be remembered. I’m starting to feel more like my old self little by little. We’re really going to improve in practice and we know we have the team to win the conference. We know what we want to accomplish.”

The Reapers (3-10-1) had no answer for the Rochelle offense, as the Hubs controlled the ball nearly the entire game and utilized the whole field to their advantage. Rochelle took a 1-0 lead when Orozco assisted the first of four Torres goals in the 14^th minute, and the Hubs went up 2-0 after Orozco cashed in junior Josh Hurtado’s assist in the 20^th minute.

“We know we have to work harder than we have before,” Orozco said.

Sophomore Ethan Tooley threaded a tight pass inside the Plano penalty area that Orozco booted in during the 27^th minute. The Reapers committed a handball violation inside their penalty area soon after, and Torres send the free kick into the goal in the 34^th minute to give the Hubs a 4-0 advantage. Hurtado and Tooley connected for the fifth first-half goal, with Hurtado earning his second assist of the afternoon.

Torres scored in the 43^rd and 62^nd minute on assists from senior Gyvanziel Quinonez and Orozco to make it a 7-0 game in favor of Rochelle. Shortly after, Tooley found Orozco on the breakaway, and Orozco sped past all the Plano defenders to complete his hat trick in the 64^th minute. The Hubs ended the game on a high note, with sophomore Carlos Morales earning his first varsity goal on an assist from Torres.

Belvidere

Rochelle kicked off the week against Belvidere on Monday, winning by a score of 7-3. Max Torres led the Hubs with three goals and two assists, while Brayan Orozco added two goals and one assist. Junior Zane Walters notched two goals in the victory, with juniors Damian Salinas and Josh Hurtado each recording one assist. Austin Brown compiled 11 saves in net.