Comets Make an Early Statement in 2-0 Season-Opening Win
The Comets opened the new season Thursday night in Glenwood, walking to the bus with a 2-0 win, carrying a 14-2 advantage in shots on goal, and the first shutout of the season for senior keeper Will Selvig.
It was not a polished performance from the opening whistle, but it was a strong one. “The Comets came out a little slow and messy this evening,” head coach Rod Jensen said. Then they settled in.
Hillcrest’s back line, led by Charlie Eggiman, Filip Lund, Davi Diniz, Oskar Moi, and Teoder Magnussen, started winning possessions, closing space, and pushing the Lakers away from centered attacks to the corners of the field. Their work did more than protect the net. It allowed the Comets to keep numbers forward, which sustained attacks and forced Minnewaska to spend much of the match defending.
The pressure came from a back-and-forth volley in the first 15 minutes of the first half. Jakob Vindenes released the tension in the game for the Comets, collecting the ball near midfield, driving up the right side, and creating his own opening for the Comets’ first goal of the season. From outside the 18-yard box, he struck a hard shot into the upper-left corner of the Laker goal to put Hillcrest ahead 1-0.
The Comets struck again, this time pushing through the tension coming out of the half after seven minutes. Vindenes took command again, coming up from the right flank toward the goal line before sliding a pass across the top of the short box. Senior striker Pedro Pereira was waiting and finished the play with a tap-in for the final 2-0 margin.
From there, Hillcrest shut the door. Minnewaska managed only two shots on goal all night. Selvig handled both, securing his first clean sheet of the 2026 season and giving the Comets exactly the kind of defensive start they wanted.
Hillcrest enters this season with new combinations across the field and several players who are still learning how to play together. But there is also more depth, more athletic ability, and a growing confidence that this group can become dangerous as the season develops. “Several players on this team have never played together,” Jensen said. “It will be fun to watch them grow as a team throughout the season.” That growth may be the defining challenge of 2026.
The JV Comets provided more great soccer to watch following the Comet win. The JV squad defeated Minnewaska 8-2. Thad Hickman recorded a hat trick, while Eli Pangman, Bryson Ballweg, Even Dyroey, Joakim Fosse, and Davi Diniz each added a goal.
Hillcrest returns home Saturday to face St. John’s Prep.