While classes at Chaska High School haven’t begun, the Chaska Boys Soccer team has already completed three games.

The Hawks traveled to Prior Lake on Aug. 21 where they came up short in a 2-0 match. On Aug. 23, Chaska faced Minneapolis Southwest, with Southwest coming away with a 3-1 win.

On Aug. 25, Chaska hosted Tri-City United (representing Montgomery, Lonsdale and Le Center) for their first home game of the season. Fans, parents and supporters navigated the orange barrels and blockades of the Highway 41 project to turn out in force, creating a great crowd for the home opener.

Before kickoff, Head Coach O’Reilly encouraged the team to “play smart, look for the passing lanes, and have some fun.”

Marco Betancourt Soto put Chaska on the board first at the 4:18 mark with a focused effort to beat the Tri-City goalie and give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Not satisfied with just one goal, Betancourt Soto added another at 11:28, again using precise footwork and positioning to get past the defenders and goalkeeper for a 2-0 advantage.

Throughout the first half, the Hawks displayed sharp passing and strong midfield pressure, keeping the ball predominantly in Tri-City’s end.

Goalkeeper Beck Wasserman faced few shots, thanks to the defense’s quick clears upfield.

During halftime, coaches urged the players to “keep playing our game and work the ball to the net.” They were clearly pleased with the team’s performance, and the squad voiced enthusiastic support for Betancourt Soto’s standout first half.

Chaska was awarded a corner kick at the 54:34 mark. Senior co-captain Finn Adams delivered the kick on goal, and fellow senior co-captain Sebastian Leighton headed it into the net to extend the lead to 3-0. With the lead secure, Coach O’Reilly began rotating in fresh legs, and Chaska continued to control the game.

Sophomore Lukole Simbi scored at 61:50 after maneuvering through the Tri-City defense. Simbi had been having a strong game, contributing key plays both in the neutral zone and on the attack.

At 75:15, Simbi added a second goal, again working the ball up the middle and placing it just over the goalkeeper’s shoulder to put Chaska ahead 5-0. The victory marked the Hawks’ first win of the young season.

Chaska travels to Shakopee on Aug. 28 and returns home on Sept. 4. While construction near the field may make access a bit tricky, it’s well worth the effort to catch the team in action.

Fans can follow the team on their Weebly site, where games are live-streamed for real-time or on-demand viewing.