Phalakhone needed just 1 minute and 12 seconds into the game to provide a score off an assist from Said Mendez-Hernandez. Van Buren didn't look back after that to down Alma 6-0 in a rivalry 5A-West matchup.
"We worked really hard this spring break," Phalakhone said. "We had a big win before that, so we went into it with a good spring break. We practiced really hard after that for the team. Everybody helped win this game. Said gave me a really good ball to score early. It's a big win for us."
Phalakhone later added a second goal in the second half to up his total to six on the season. After earning River Valley Democrat-Gazette Soccer Newcomer of the Year honors his freshman year, his coach said he's only grown since then.
"It's good for Ko," Van Buren Coach Nathan Almond said. "He is one of those kids that you can't complain about. He's just a good person and a great student being at the scholars banquet last night. He is one of those kids that you have to root for. He does a great job. With our depth, he is coming out of the game a little more than he is used to. But he doesn't care and wants the team to do well. That's a special kid."
Van Buren (9-3, 3-2) took a 2-0 lead into the break, controlling the ball for most of the half. The Pointers had six shots on goal, while Alma (4-3, 3-2) didn't register a shot on goal in the opening 40 minutes.
After Phalakhone provided the initial goal of the game with 38:48 left in the half, it didn't take Van Buren long to add to its edge. The Pointers off a corner kick from Joe Luster was converted into a goal from Steven Valente to go ahead 2-0.
It took Van Buren some time to find a goal again in the second half though. Santiago Dela Fuente, the 2025 River Valley Democrat-Gazette Newcomer of the Year, finally broke through for a 3-0 lead with 15:27 left to play.
"We were struggling a little bit in the second half starting off," Dela Fuente said. "I feel like when I hit the back of the net in the second half, our team got that momentum going. This is a rivalry game, so it's always good to beat them."
Van Buren then quickly added three goals after that. Mendez-Hernandez and No Phalakhone made it a 5-0 lead with goals scored within 41 seconds of each other.
"We've scored in the same game before, but it never gets old," Ko Phalakhone said of his brother. "That happened two games ago. It's always really good. I'm really proud of him and the team."
Ko Phalakhone finished the scoring off an assist from Chris Alvarez Aguirre for a 6-0 edge with 1:42 left in the game to put it well out of reach.
"They were ready to play after the break," Almond said. "It was a team effort. They are unselfish and play and move the ball together. They kept putting the pressure on and played well."
Van Buren finished with 17 shots on goal to Alma's three shots on goal. Alma, on a program-best three-game winning streak entering the game, was kept in the contest early with senior keeper Lukas Todd totaling 11 saves.
The Pointers sealed the shutout with goalies Manning Dodson and Kevin Marroquin-Zometa combining for three saves. Senior captain Carter Kelley as a defender also won several one-on-one matchups to thwart scoring chances.
"He had a great game and is doing well," Almond said of Kelley. "I challenged our defen... Click here to read full article
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