Pictured is Waterloo soccer captain Nolan Rick.
(Alan Dooley photo)

The standard is high for prep soccer teams in Monroe County, with either Gibault, Columbia or Waterloo representing this area at the state tournament each of the past five years.

It’s a good bet that streak can extend to six with the way these teams have looked through the opening week of play.

Columbia went 3-0-1 to win the Nike bracket of the Metro Cup.

Following their season-opening win over Springfield last Monday, the Eagles tied rival Gibault last Tuesday, 1-1. Cameron Eden scored the goal for Columbia; Logan Doerr notched the game-tying goal for the Hawks.

On Friday, Columbia blasted Belleville West, 7-0. Riley Hubler finished with two goals and two assists. Karson Bridges also scored twice. 

Columbia wrapped up Metro Cup play with a 5-0 victory over Mascoutah on Saturday. Hubler recorded a hat trick and Bridges contributed two assists.

Hubler, who led the team in scoring last season, already has five goals and two assists this season. Eden has three goals.

Alec Venhaus has been stellar in net, posting a 3-0-1 record.

Columbia hosted Carlyle on Tuesday. 

Gibault, the defending Class 2A state runner-up, is 4-1-1 on the young season. 

Following the tie with Columbia, the Hawks defeated Belleville West by a 3-0 count. Gibault goalkeeper Connor Olson made nine saves for the shutout, with Karson Huels, Alex Merlenbach and Ryan Swindle scoring the goals. 

On Thursday, Gibault dropped its first match of the season to Springfield, 2-1. Huels scored Gibault’s only goal.

Gibault concluded Metro Cup play with a 1-0 win over Mascoutah on Friday. Huels scored the game’s only goal and Olson made five saves for the shutout.

Mascoutah was the opponent again for Gibault on Monday night, with the Hawks again victorious by a score of 2-1. Huels scored both goals for Gibault, which hosted Catholic rival Marquette on Tuesday. 

Huels has five goals and an assist to lead the Hawks in scoring.

Waterloo is 3-3 on the season, including a 2-1 showing at the Carbondale tournament over the weekend. 

On Friday, the Bulldogs opened tourney play with a 4-0 victory over Carterville. Derek Young scored twice and assisted on another. Derek Biffar  added a goal and an assist.

On Saturday, Waterloo defeated Perryville, 2-0, and dropped a 2-1 contest to Carbondale.

Young and Alec Arterburn scored in the win over Perryville. Young also scored in the loss to Carbondale. 

On Monday, Waterloo opened Mississippi Valley Conference play with an 8-2 dismantling of Civic Memorial. 

Young and Nolan Rick scored two goals each. Jake Elsing added a goal and an assist.

The Bulldogs went undefeated in MVC play last season. 

Young leads Waterloo in scoring with six goals and an assist. Eli Gardner has five assists.

Waterloo plays at Freeburg on Wednesday and hosts Belleville West on Thursday.

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