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The Hays High boys’ soccer team has opened the 2026 season as hot as the weather, going 2-0-1 in its first week of action.
Even triple-digit temperatures haven’t been able to keep this year’s large senior class of 10 from recording the best start to the season in their prep careers.
Two of those seniors have been leaders for the Indians, both on offense and defense.
Forward Ivan Maldonado has already scored six goals to kick off his senior season, while goalkeeper Cedric Durr has 14 saves.
Maldonado scored the Indians’ only goal on
a penalty kick in last Saturday’s season opener in a grueling 1-1 double-overtime draw with Life Prep Academy.
He then erupted for five goals in a 9-1 road win over Salina South Tuesday.
Thursday, Durr earned his first clean sheet of the season in a 2-0 shutout of Wichita East. Sophomore Michael Contreras scored both goals in that match, giving him three for the season.
Contreras also scored once against Salina South, as did seniors Cyler Luck and Oscar Perez and junior Gerardo Seraphin Paez.
Next action for Hays High will be Tuesday when it begins tournament play in the third annual Salina South Invitational.
The Indians will open play at Salina Stadium vs. Emporia (2-0). Because of the
recent extreme heat wave, that game has been pushed back to 6 p.m. from its original start time of 5:00.