AURORA | The new-look season for the Cherokee Trail boys soccer team took another turn up Thursday.
Unlike last season, when the Cougars’ strong start to the season got derailed in Centennial League play, they put themselves in a strong position in the conference by stunning defending league champion Smoky Hill 1-0 at Legacy Stadium.
Senior Jacob Rodriguez came through with the lone goal of the game in the 31st minute and Cherokee Trail held off a flurry of late pressure by the Buffaloes to avenge a 2-1 loss in 2012.
Under new coach Mazen Kayali, the Cougars are off to a 6-1-2 start and sit at 3-0 in the Centennial League, just a game behind Grandview (4-0) for first place.
Coach Kersten Mullan’s Smoky Hill team, which got shut out for the first time since the end of the 2011 season, fell to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the league.
Rodriguez broke a scoreless tie when he ran onto a rebound after a shot by teammate Jerdan Daniels, took a couple of touches from point blank range and buried a shot in the opposite corner.
The play got physical in the second half, as referees handed out three yellow cards — two to Cherokee Trail, one to Smoky Hill — in a six-minute span as the Buffaloes pushed for the equalizer and the Cougars looked to build on their lead.
Smoky Hill had the best chance to tie the game with just under two minutes left when junior Kevin Del Mazo drilled a left-footed shot toward the corner of the net that was punched away at the last minute by diving Cherokee Trail goalkeeper Alex Reichler.
Reichler continued his strong play in the nets as the Cougars posted their third consecutive shutout and fourth overall.
CHEROKEE TRAIL 1, SMOKY HILL 0
Score by halves:
Smoky Hill 0 0 — 0
Cherokee Trail 1 0 — 1
SCORING
First half
Cherokee Trail — Jacob Rodriguez (Jerdan Daniels), 31st minute