WILLMAR -- The Willmar boys soccer team is off to its best start since 2004 after beating Alexandria 5-2 Tuesday in the Central Lakes Conference opener.
Sophomore Gerardo Eligio scored Willmar's first and last goal, the first coming off a corner kick by Ethan Vogel.
Sophomore Abdi Abdinasir had a goal and two assists and Trent Fader a goal and an assist in the first half for Willmar.
"We got off to a slow start but when they scored right away it woke us up," said coach Richard Courtney. "I liked the way we finished. We made the most of our opportunities."
David Reeb scored Willmar's fourth goal.
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Willmar, now 2-0 this season, started 3-0-1 three years ago.
Steven Kluver made eight stops in goal. Alexandria took a 1-0 lead on a 25-footer that found the upper right corner just over Kluver's outstretched hand.
The Cardinals play at Little Falls in a Central Lakes Conference match Thursday at 5 p.m. Willmar doesn't play at home again until Sept. 8 against Central Minnesota Christian.
Willmar 5, Alexandria 2
Alexandria 1 1 -- 2
Willmar (2-0) 3 2 -- 5
FIRST HALF - Alx: name not available 7:00.... Wil: Gerardo Eligio (Ethan Vogel) 12:00 ... Wil: Abdi Abdinasir (Trent Fader) 18:22 .... Wil: Fader (Abdinasir) 22:09
SECOND HALF - Alx: name not available 46:47 .... Wil: David Reeb (Matt Kroneberger) 51:04 .... Wil: Eligio (Abdinasir) 54:19
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Shots - Alexandria: 12... Willmar: 18
Goalie saves - Alexandria: Aaron Lemmon 11: Willmar: Steve Kluver 8
