Mexico wanted to end the boys soccer regular season with a bang.

The Bulldogs wanted a victory for their six seniors on Senior Night on Monday and won 4-1 against Canton (2-14-2) on Chris Hotop Field. Mexico (6-14) has won two straight before it plays Southern Boone (15-6) at noon Saturday in the Class 2 District 4 tournament in Moberly.

Head coach Bill Gleeson said there were sloppy moments on Monday that will need to be cleaned up before Saturday, but Mexico brought intensity he hopes carries over to Southern Boone. The Bulldogs outshot Canton 36-7 and had goals from seniors Jesus Garcia and Grant Walker and Alex Matuz.

Mexico Boys Soccer Senior Night Photo Gallery

“We were just saying, ‘Go all-out’ because this is our last regular season game,” Gleeson said. “We’re going to play it like we are getting ready for districts so play hard, play tough and go after it.”

Both of Mexico’s goals in the first half were scored by Garcia off of assists from Wyatt Wilson and Angel Muralles through the Canton defense. Garcia said he likes when he is set up for those opportunities because then he can come though like he did on Monday.

“They know I will always run through,” Garcia said. “I just tell them, ‘If you get the ball and you see me give you the signal, give a through-ball and I’ll always be there.’”

Gleeson said the seniors were all good players and good people in the program for multiple years, including five of them for four years. Several of those names are Mexico’s key scorers like Alex Rodriguez, Brixton Goerne and Garcia.

Garcia represents the speed Mexico has had recently, Gleeson said, and those kids bring plenty of skill. On the defense, Brandon Ballard and William Hernandez-Sampayo fill out the back line in front of the goalkeeper Walker. 

“We’re going to miss a lot of speed with Jesus,” Gleeson said. “We’ve been using him in the back line, too. He’s like a sneaky right wing back to help us get an extra person offense but also have some really fast speed on defense as well.”

Walker has done well as Mexico’s goalkeeper after transitioning from being a defender. Because the Bulldogs gained a lead, Walker changed out of his goalie uniform and put on the red uniform once again in his final home game.

Both Walker and Garcia joked they could have scored more goals but combined for a senior hat trick, nevertheless. Walker scored for the first time since sophomore year but was comfortable being close to the other team’s net for a change.

“Sometimes, I practice it in practice, too,” Walker said. “I don’t do all goalkeeper stuff just for moments like that. I knew I could get something going at least.”

Gleeson said Senior Night is for the boys, especially the seniors. He said Walker asked for the opportunity to play the field, and Gleeson was happy to give him the chance to score. 

“He was pretty excited,” Gleeson said. “He’s been practicing up at the front this week to get ready. We knew he was going to do well up there because of his size and ability to get that ball in there.”

Walker said his desire to “go out with a bang” on Senior Night was why he wanted to play in the field so badly.

“It feels weird that it is my last home game, though,” Walker said. 

Garcia said he felt weird as well after finishing his final game on Chris Hotop Field but also wanted to end on a positive note.

“For me, it was a bang,” Garcia said. “We all wanted to go out with a bang.”