Senior Caleb Rodriguez became the all-time leading scorer in WHS boys soccer with a four-goal performance to blanket Lebanon 10-0 in Ozark Conference action Tuesday night on the loser’s field.  Rodriguez surpassed former Tiger star Alex Neeley when he ended the game with 2:35 remaining.  Playing the ball all alone down the right, Rodriguez cut across the goal mouth, beat two defenders and placed the record-breaker high in the net.  Tiger fans and teammates  erupted knowing he had set the record.  

Neeley, a 2005 WHS graduate, played on the varsity from 2001-2004.  Another one of his career marks is clearly under the Rodriguez assault.  Neeley totaled 149 during his four years.  Rodriguez is currently at 147. Neeley’s father, Dave, who coached both boys when they were younger, was on hand for the game.  

Rodriguez, who also had four assists on his big night,  would be the first to congratulate his teammates on a thorough pounding of the Yellowjackets.  Rodriguez scored his team’s first three goals at 33:14, 19:42, and 4:48 before assisting Danny Sesay late for a 4-0 halftime lead.  Working hard to set up his teammates with three assists in the second half, he seemed content at times to watch them have their own fun.  

The first came when Michael O’ Donnell scored on a header off an Alberto Reyes cross.  Next it was Reyes with a header off an Austin Cartwright corner kick.  Hermano Carvalho scored off a Rodriguez direct kick and 27 seconds later Sesay volleyed in a Rodriguez cross and followed that up with another goal off of a Rodriguez touch.  That made it 9-0, and Rodriguez seemed to decide to put an end to Lebanon and the record chase at the same time.  After a weak kickoff was stolen by the Tigers, their all-time leading scorer took just 30 seconds to turn the lights out.  

Sesay and Cartwright both also had assists on Rodriguez goals in the first half.  The Tigers not only throttled Lebanon offensively, but centerback Robert Osborn and goalkeeper Jacob Woodward directed such a solid defensive game that Lebanon was denied a shot on goal all night.  

The Tigers will have their hands full Thursday night when they visit the powerful Nixa Eagles.  The game has been moved from an original Friday date.