After coming off the low point of the season, Mexico boys soccer is reaching its highest.

On Monday, the Bulldogs ended a season-high eight game losing streak with a 3-2 win at Moberly and then won their season-high third straight on Saturday after defeating Chillicothe 6-0 on Senior Night. It was Mexico’s third shutout of the season — its first against an opponent not named Moberly — and second time this week a Bulldog scored a hat trick after having one such performance in the previous 19 games.

Head coach William Gleeson said he believes Mexico (7-14) is peaking at the right time after going on a stretch that involved the Bulldogs facing several state-ranked teams without a full roster. He said the Bulldogs’ game on Saturday demonstrated the reason for the recent hot streak.

“We’re getting better at working that ball, and honestly, taking shots,” Gleeson said. “Before, we were always hesitant about taking a shot. We (then) thought, ‘If you’re open, take a shot.’ We’ve been taking more shots, and when you take more shots, you’re apt to make more.”

Gleeson said the mid- to long-range shots don’t always convert as well as Mexico was in the first half, but the same philosophy applies, meaning when the Bulldogs were open, they were immediately sending it toward the net.

Saturday was an abnormally windy day at Chris Hotop Field so Gleeson said Mexico wanted to take advantage of the conditions both teams were given.

“We tried to get with the wind the first half so we could try to score quick and play it defensively more in the second half,” Gleeson said.

In the 25th minute, a Chillicothe (7-10-1) defender had the ball at his feet but was unable to clear it, which gave Brendan McKeown the opportunity to boot it across the field into the left side of the net. Five minutes later, Bryce Carter had some space around him before he placed a shot above the goalkeeper for a goal.

Both of those shots were outside the penalty box as was the third goal scored by Mexico in the 10th minute of the second half. Goalkeeper Emille Scanavino, who made five saves, snagged a ball that was literally up for grabs around the net and then heaved the ball that was flagged down by Walker along the left side. The speedy Walker kept going until he was all alone and was within striking distance to make it 3-0.

“Our defense turned back into offense,” Gleeson said. “Ultimately, that’s where we want — we get that transition, work the ball up, get a good score. It really worked out pretty nicely.”

Senior Fernando Guzman scored a hat trick on Tuesday in a 4-2 victory at home against district foe Wright City. Walker netted Mexico its second straight hat trick, giving the team two hat tricks in as many games after only recording one in the first game of the season Aug. 30 at Elsberry — a 6-1 win led by senior James Branson’s three goals.

In the 67th minute, Walker dribbled the ball down to near the goalie box before putting it past the keeper, and then in the 73rd minute, he knocked his shot past the keeper again for his third goal.

After a sophomore scored three and juniors converted on two shots, the senior Branson received a pass in front of the goal before putting it in to make sure one senior Bulldog scored on Senior Night. He, Guzman, Kevin Lopez, Jackson Lamb, Hyuriel Garcia and Declan Gleeson were honored before the varsity game.

Gleeson said most of this particular group of seniors has been with him for all four years. He also said it is especially “bittersweet” that his son was part of the group.

“We’re going to miss them a lot,” Gleeson said. “It’s good to see (Declan) go on, but it’s sad too because I’ve been coaching him for four years.”

Gleeson said Mexico is not overlooking its road game Thursday at Helias Catholic (4-17) — after losing nine of the previous 10 meetings with the Crusaders — but admitted the Bulldogs were pleased to see they play their first district game at 2 p.m. Saturday against Wright City (10-6-1) in Mexico. The bracket was released on the same night Mexico defeated the Wildcats 4-2, but Gleeson said the Bulldogs can’t be too confident.

“It’s hard to beat a team twice,” Gleeson said. “The trick is going to be getting these boys to settle in and still play our game and not take too much for granted that they’re going to win.”