HARRISBURG – After starting the season 0-3, the Aberdeen Central boys’ soccer program notched its fourth straight victory Saturday afternoon, claiming a 3-0 win over Harrisburg on the road.

The Golden Eagles have outscored their opponents 12-2 in those four victories. Saturday’s shutout was the second in that stretch, as well.

Central coach Lance Mohr attributes Central’s recent success to a relatively simple formula: time and experience.

“We had a really young team at the beginning of the season,” Mohr said. “We still do, but we had a lot of new faces in the starting lineup taking on starting roles. … Game experience is so necessary at the high school level to build confidence.”

With now seven games – and four victories – now under wraps, that experience is starting to translate into success.

“The number one thing I took away from today’s game was that we had really long periods of good play with much smaller times when we weren’t really in control of the game,” Mohr said. 

Golden Eagle senior Manuel Munoz is a bit of a microcosm of the overall trajectory of the Central squad. Munoz had a hand in all three of Saturday’s goals, including two scores of his own and an assist on the third.

“The guys really enjoy being around him,” Mohr said, “and that precipitates into him playing really well.”

Munoz isn’t alone in his success, however. Tyler Bain, who had the third goal for the Golden Eagles, has also been on an upward trajectory.

“Tyler had his best game of the season,” Mohr said. “He played really well.”

Central will head back out on the road Tuesday to take on Tea Area in Tea. Mohr said he anticipates a good game from the Titans despite the two teams not having met in a number of years.

“We expect a good game,” Mohr said. “But at the same time if we execute and do the things we need to do, it increases our chances of success and finding a favorable result.”

Aberdeen Central 1 2 – 3

Harrisburg 0 0 – 0

First half: 1, AC, Manuel Munoz (Tyler Bain), 16:33.

Second half: 2, AC, Bain (Munoz), 36:10; 3, AC, Munoz (Creighton Aberle), 14:18.