Renshaw’s hat trick leads Rams in 10-0 season-opening win

A bad start for Missouri Valley only got worse from there as Jordan Renshaw recorded his first career “hat trick” and Glenwood went on to down the Big Reds 10-0 in the boys soccer opener for both teams Thursday.

Missouri Valley opened the game with an own goal to get down 1-0 in the first five minutes and the rout was on. The game was called by “mercy rule” with 10 minutes remaining in the second half.

“I was pleased with how aggressive we played,” said Glenwood coach Cort Lovato. “Missouri Valley played a very high line in the first half. We had a lot of one-on-one’s with their goalkeeper because of that high line. We were able to play some balls through to (forwards) Renshaw, (Kyle) Jorgensen and (John Palmer) because of it.”

In addition to Renshaw’s three goals, the Rams got two goals from Palmer and one each from Jorgensen, Max Fiebelkorn, Jack Finn and John Tallmon.

“Jordan has always had the ability to score,” Lovato said of his senior forward, who has already eclipsed the two goals he scored all of last season. “Now I believe he will take the next step and score at a more regular basis. I am really pleased with his progress since he had only been playing for three years now.”

Lovato also praised the play of Palmer and freshman Jackson Wray. Palmer, who played mostly in goal last season, scored his first two goals of his varsity career. Wray, in his first varsity start, recorded two assists.

Overall, Lovato said his team played well but his team is still far from a finished product.

“Our team has a lot of work to do yet based on what we saw this game,” Lovato said. “I am impressed at how the boys were able to move the ball and did not become a team that has to go forward all the time. The boys were able to pick their spots and see when to attack and when to possess the ball and wait. The competition only becomes more difficult in the future. The coaches need to iron out some things in the midfield, however, the production rate we saw from the midfield has the team going the right direction"

For the game, Glenwood out-shot the Big Reds 22-6.