It’s as if they know what each other are thinking.

Mexico vs Chillicothe Photo Gallery

Mexico boys soccer is off to its best start since 2015 as the Bulldogs improved to a 4-1 record after a 5-0 home win over Chillicothe (2-2) on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs outshot the Hornets 31-12 and had four different players score goals.

Head coach Bill Gleeson said it was yet another productive offensive day following a 6-0 home victory against Boonville two days prior. In those two games, Gleeson said Mexico has really started to click.

"We've really been working on making those passes and including everybody really working the ball, being selfless and just giving it up," Gleeson said. "The boys are starting to really gel like they know where the other person is going to be, and they can just pass it there and they're going to be there."

For example, the first goal of the game was scored by Kalvin Smith in the 23rd minute on a cross pass by Gage Walker. There was a tight window around the goalie box, but Smith stuck his leg out to poke it past the keeper. 

In the 45th minute, Alex Rodriguez arced a corner kick in front of the Chillicothe net before the ball was headed in by Walker in what was his second goal of the game. 

“Those are perfect examples of what we’re trying to do all the way around,” Gleeson said. “It’s just working together and anticipating where those teammates are going to be.”

The only time of the game where Gleeson had some concern was in the beginning of the second half. Mexico came out of halftime with a 2-0 lead and added Walker’s header in the first five minutes, but Chillicothe continued to steal the ball away from the Bulldogs on some possessions. Gleeson said Mexico settled in to make his worries disappear.

Chillicothe’s time of possession in its offensive half of the field almost disappeared as well because of how many shots Mexico was taking. The Bulldogs rattled off 18 shots in the second and added goals in the 71st minute by Jesus Garcia and in the 77th minute by Alfredo Juarez-Lopez. Garcia’s was a rebound goal off a miss from Walker.

“My first pass was to Gage, who was open in the box,” Garcia said. “If I see they miss and I see the ball bounce, I try to see which spots are open so I can try to take a shot or see if I can cross it in again so they can make a goal.”

Garcia said there is a lot of communication on the field and is coordinating with teammates like Walker, Rodriguez or whoever is in a good position. To be in position to score, Garcia said he likes to use his quickness to move to the correct spots and his teammates know that as well.

"Me and Alex (Rodriguez), we play in Wolfpack Academy," Garcia said. "We know how each other plays. In practice, we practice offense or defense, and I always try to stay open for them on the sides."

Garcia said there’s that type of chemistry throughout the Bulldogs, and that’s a big reason why they have started so well.

Mexico had plenty of chances to run offensive plays since Chillicothe was forced to make 12 saves while Grant Walker turned away four shots in Mexico’s net. Gleeson said many hopes Chillicothe had for an offensive possession were stopped.

“We did a really good job of winning in the midfield,” Gleeson said. “We were then able to transition back into offense. Winning it in the midfield Thursday and today was a big factor. Our defense didn’t have to do a lot of work.”

Mexico hosts North Central Missouri Conference foe and district foe Moberly (3-4) at 6:30 p.m. today.