DuBourg senior Mateo Switzer (10) dribbles the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Paul Halfacre
DuBourg senior Mateo Switzer (10) settles the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Paul Halfacre
Valley Park junior Owen Caskey (2) battles for the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Paul Halfacre
Valley Park senior Joe Buckman (6) runs after the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Paul Halfacre
DuBourg senior Mateo Switzer (10) runs with the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
VALLEY PARK — Mateo Switzer doesn't consider it a 1-on-4 when he flies headlong into the opposing defense.
The DuBourg senior treats it like it's 1-on-1, four separate times.
"He's shifty," DuBourg boys soccer coach Brian Gillick said. "About the time you think he won't break out of a pack, that's when he breaks out of it. He cuts better than anyone I've ever coached."
Switzer carved his way through the Valley Park defense and his first-half goal was enough as DuBourg defeated Valley Park 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon in a battle of unbeaten teams at Meramec Levee Recreation Park.
In a rematch of last year's Class 1 District 1 title game, DuBourg — last year's Class 1 runner-up — moved to a perfect 6-0 for the first time this century. The Cavaliers have won all nine matchups with Valley Park since 2018.
Switzer's fourth goal of the season came at the 25-minute mark when Valley Park (6-1) collapsed on him outside the box. With four defenders trying to get a handle on the slippery senior, he left them grasping at straws before blasting a shot at the corner of the net.
"That's kind of my thing," Switzer said. "I like to get on the defense and take them on. Mostly, I focus on one guy at a time and like to cut it in."
Valley Park coach Tom Probst had to praise the Cavaliers senior after he left his defense scratching its head.
"I don't think we have a player on the team with that kind of skill set, so when you don't practice against it, it's hard sometimes to play against it," Probst said.
Gillick didn't think a one-goal lead would be enough with prolific goal scorer and all-everything athlete Will Geary on the other side for the Hawks.
"Will is the best player out of the air I've seen," Gillick said. "If Will gets into space and runs at defenders, I don't care how good a defender is, you're not going to stop him. He's that dynamic. They have a solid team and a solid goalie, but Will can turn the whole game around."
Geary is third in the area with 16 goals and second in the area with 41 points.
At the back of DuBourg's defense, senior goalkeeper Cory Macke always ensured his defense knew where Geary was. The plan was to double and even triple team Geary.
"You can't let a guy like that slip through," Macke said. "We thought that if we lost this game, it'd be because of him, so eliminate that problem and why let that happen."
Valley Park took 10 shots on goal, with Macke making three saves on the day to record his third shutout of the season. One shot by Geary sailed just over the top of the net at the end of the first half, but the Cavaliers' defense held firm for the shutout.
After playing as a midfielder last season, Macke has settled in nicely with his new role.
He admitted to feeling a little guilty when he sees his teammates gasping for air after a match.
"It saves me six miles a game," Macke said. "Sometimes I do wish I could go up there trying to score, but it's all right. Shutting them out is a lot of fun."
DuBourg graduated a host of seniors who helped it advance to consecutive state semifinals, but there hasn't been a step back this season.
"Everyone thought we'd kind of rebuild this year, but we're kind of here to show that we're still here and trying to win," Switzer said.
Macke echoed his captain's words.
"Mateo said it, everyone thought we'd be down, but I don't think that's the case," Macke said. "We're out here every day showing that we've got a great program with some great coaches and we're doing great things out here."
After back-to-back trips to the semifinal round in Class 1 and now in Class 2, Gillick believes the Hawks have everything they need to make a similar run this year.
"Valley Park is a great team who I believe has a really good shot to go to the (semifinals) in Class 1," Gillick said. "I really believe that. They're a great team with a great coach."
Read about some of the 50¶È»ÒÊÓƵ area's top high school boys soccer players as the season gets under way.
DuBourg senior Mateo Switzer (10) dribbles the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
DuBourg senior Mateo Switzer (10) settles the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Valley Park junior Owen Caskey (2) battles for the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Valley Park senior Joe Buckman (6) runs after the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
DuBourg senior Mateo Switzer (10) runs with the ball during a boys soccer game on September 18, 2024 at Meramec Levee Recreational Park in Valley Park, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch