The Emporia High boys soccer team held its home opener Tuesday against Topeka-Hayden.
The Spartans improved to 5-1, 1-0 in Centennial League play with a 4-2 victory over the Wildcats.
Gio Garcilazo gave EHS a 1-0 advantage in the 27th minute and Kevin Magana made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute.
Hayden cut the deficit in half with just over 30 seconds left of play before halftime.
Mats Goerres scored both Spartans’ goals in the 49th and 76th minutes of the second half. Goerres, a foreign exchange student from Holland, says he had some nerves early in the match.
He added the support for soccer is different in the United States than what it is in Holland.
Coach Victor Ibarra says the Spartans did a good job of keeping possession of the ball.
The Spartans will host Valley Center at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Emporia High School.
