NEW HOPE — The New Hope High School boys soccer team has won back-to-back region championships, and with six seniors in the starting lineup, the Trojans expect to win another one this winter.

The first step could not have gone much better, as seven players scored goals Wednesday night as New Hope opened 5A-4 play with a 10-0 rout of West Point in New Hope.

“We lost our keeper from last year, but we return a good number of players that have some experience,” Trojans coach Andrew Olsen said. “We’ve been kind of successful, but we’re trying to get over the hump.”

If New Hope’s trend continues, it could happen this season. Two years ago, the Trojans went 14-2-2 and won a playoff game before falling to Ridgeland 3-0 in the second round. A year ago, the Trojans defeated Vicksburg and Saltillo in the postseason before falling to Center Hill.

Junior Hayden Dodsen and seniors Christian Juarez and Brant Smith each scored twice against the Green Wave, who rarely got the ball across midfield, especially during the first half, which ended with the Trojans up 9-0.

The Trojans scored in a variety of ways. There was a direct kick by Smith from 35 yards out that every player on both teams seemed to expect someone else to play but instead watched as it bounced slowly into the net. Rylinn Loyd in the 17th minute and Dodsen in the 27th each found himself one on one against the Green Wave keeper, and each took advantage with a goal. Dodsen followed his score with another one 2 minutes later.

A couple of times the ball was sent into the box and bounced around from player to player before a New Hope player scored. And there was a perfectly executed corner kick from Smith that found Trey Parnell’s head for an easy score during the 24th minute. 

Like Smith, Parnell is one of New Hope’s senior starters.

“We do have a good bit out there that has some experience and has played in some big games, so that helps us,” Olsen said. “Trey Parnell, he’s been putting in a good bit of goals these past couple of years; Christian Juarez up top, he’s been solid, putting in some; and Jose Castillo, he’s not a senior, but he plays a big part for us.”

Barely touching the ball Tuesday night was Trojans keeper Adam Adair, perhaps the best story on the New Hope roster.

“He’s a senior this year, and this is his first year playing soccer,” Olsen explained. “He came out, did a good job in the preseason, and he won the job. He’s done an excellent job for us so far.”

Parnell, Castillo, Caden Perrigin, Rylinn Loyd, Jack Oswalt and Brantley Shelton scored goals for the Trojans (5-2), while Smith totaled 4 assists, Parnell finished with 3; Dodsen, Juarez, Loyd and Chance West each posted 2 assists; and Oswalt, Castillo and Brantley Shelton recorded an assist apiece.

New Hope’s boys tallied one more goal than the girls, although the girls were even more dominant in keeping the ball in the attacking end during their 9-0 win over West Point.

The Trojans put up three goals within the first 7 minutes, with freshman Roni Kate West getting the party started during the second minute. 

“We’re trying to get back on track, and this is a great start at 1-0,” Olsen said. “We’ve played a tough schedule so far. We took some losses, but we’re growing as a team, and I feel like we’re getting better each game.”

They were more than good enough against the Green Wave, passing with confidence and playing as if they expected to dribble past defenders and prevent the ball from being cleared. The Trojans sent a lot of shots on goal, and while many of them were easy saves, they kept the pressure on the Green Wave.

Olsen pointed to several players that have carried the offensive load in the early going for the Trojans.

“Caleigh Carter has been putting in goals for us, Roni Kate West has put in a couple, and Allie Sanford has been having a really good year so far,” he said. 

The Trojans were still hustling with an insurmountable lead. Almost 10 minutes into the second half, Mallory Lumsden chased down a ball that almost went over the goal line and directed a pass to Chelsea Teague, who scored the Trojans’ final goal just shy of 10 minutes into the second half.

New Hope’s girls also won a region title last year and lost only a couple of seniors from that team. Beating West Point in their region opener gives the Trojans a record of 3-4, but Olsen said the schedule has been challenging and they have battled through injuries.

“We’re hoping our best soccer is yet to come,” he said. “It’s a long season, so we hope we hit stride going into January.”