Record night

Junior forward Conner Pals set a school record as the Creston soccer team sent a message Monday night at Panther Field.

Pals scored six goals and McClain Haines and Ben Irr each scored two as the Panthers defeated Nodaway Valley, 10-0.

Pals broke the record of four goals scored in a match held in part by his brother, Seth, during the 2010 season when he scored 23 goals. (Conner Pals currently has 12). Angel Perez also scored four goals in a match for Creston in 2005.

Pals and Haines each scored two goals and Irr added one as the Panthers took a 5-0 halftime lead.

Irr tallied another less than two minutes into the second half. Pals then weaved through the defense for his third goal five minutes into the half, and followed quickly two minutes later off a centering pass by Irr to make it 8-0.

With 30:48 left in the second half Pals made it 9-0, and he capped the night by punching in his sixth off the back side of his right foot with 25:26 left.

“That is hard to do,” Creston coach Jesus Rodriguez said of Pals’ performance. “I know the team wasn’t as strong as some, but that is tough to score two hat tricks in one game. On one goal, he pretty much took it all the way from midfield on his own, through the defense.”

Pals had scored three goals in a match this season, and admitted he had his sights set on the record shared by his brother and Perez.

“Yeah, it’s been one of my goals ever since I was a little kid watching Seth play,” Pals said. “I remember the game when he got his fourth. (Tonight) I had good passes from my teammates and things just started falling in place.”

Pals scored what appeared to be his seventh goal late in the first half on a rebound, but it was nullified by an offsides call.

Nodaway Valley came in with a 2-3 record, but was overmatched on this night against a team on a mission. The Wolverines owned victories of 3-2 over AvoHa and 3-0 over Clarinda Academy.

“Nothing against Nodaway Valley, but this was one of those games that I wanted to win by a big margin,” Rodriguez said. “I told the guys, this sends a mesage to the people who rank the teams. Honestly, I want the guys to be recognized for the work they put in, beating good teams. Plus, getting ranked could mean putting us in a separate (substate) bracket where we get home games. That’s our goal.”

Three of last week’s five matches were overtime, so the Panthers now have a much-needed break until a series of road matches next week against Atlantic, Lewis Central and Glenwood.

“Tomorrow we’re kind of recuperating with an easy practice,” Rodriguez said. “Then starting Wednesday we need to work on some fitness for a tough week ahead. We have to prepare mentally and physically for those games. Our ultimate goal is to win all three and be in good shape for the conference championship.”

Glenwood, one of the preseason favorites, recently edged Harlan, 2-1, to start its conference season. The Rams face Atlantic tonight.

Creston 10, Nodaway Valley 0

Creston (10) — McClain Haines 37:15 first half; Haines 28:50 first half; Conner Pals 20:11 first half; Ben Irr 16:05 first half; Pals 14:01 first half; Irr 38:32 second half; Pals 35:50 second half; Pals 33:26 second half; Pals 30:48 second half; Pals 25:26 second half. Shots (on goal) — 43 (28 on goal). Assists — Irr 4, Gavin Leith 3, Haines 2, Woods 2. Individual shots (on goal)— Haines 11 (5 on goal), Pals 9 (7 on goal), Irr 9 (6 on goal), Chase Shiltz 2 (1 on goal), Levi Eblen 2 (1 on goal), Gavin Woods 2 (1 on goal), Skylar Cook 2 (2 on goal), Jake Miller 2 (2 on goal), Connor Kinkade 1 (1 on goal), Trevor Frain 1 (1 on goal). Keeper saves — Alex Nielsen 2. Cards — None.

Nodaway Valley (0) — Shots (on goal) — 2. Individual shots — Brennen Weiland 1, Zach Brewer 1. Saves — Jacob Baudler 10.