Senior attacker Asende Welongo and the team’s defense once again headlined a Rockhurst soccer win, this one 8-0 over Kansas City East High School on Oct. 13, 2025. Welongo scored two goals, while the defense yielded none in a mercy-rule victory for the Hawklets.
Two players, Welongo and fellow senior Mo Abdalla, went into this game with a chip on their shoulder. Welongo and Abdalla entered the game knowing the other team and its fans very well.
“I got to play with some childhood friends… some friends that… I usually hang out with over the weekends whenever I’m not at school or anything, so it felt great,” Welongo said
Abdalla says a lot of East players are from Congo, like Welongo. Additionally, these players created a club soccer team that the two Rockhurst players competed for.
“We are all immigrants… from different countries. We came here as refugees. So we all came here together and… we started a club called Global FC,” Abdalla said.
With the game being so personal to them, they were able to showcase their talent. Welongo found the back of the net twice in the first half as he helped Rockhurst pull away from his friendly foes.
“You could see something click in Mo and Asende’s head,” senior defender Will Hunter said.
With the meaningful win came Rockhurst’s ninth shutout of the season. Even without senior defender Aiden Comeau (hamstring), the defensive unit did not allow many East goal-scoring opportunities. Hunter attributes the success to the chemistry and experience on the back line.
The senior himself put on a dominant performance as well. In addition to stifling East’s offense, Hunter also scored from distance in the second half.
“I just stepped up, and I just hit it,” Hunter said. “I never never thought I was gonna miss.”
Senior midfielder Rex Olivas, in his first game back from a hamstring injury, was also able to score from far out in the second half after Head Coach Matt Darby made a halftime adjustment.
“We haven’t really tested [their goalkeeper] from distance with great shots,” Darby told the team at the break, adding, “If there’s a shot with pace on it, he might not have time to get there.”
With a record of 14-0-1, the team has four games remaining until the district tournament, which begins Nov. 1. After losing in the state semifinals last year, the team hopes to carry momentum from this game and others like it into the postseason.
“The 8-0 win gives us strength and gives us confidence… and it lets us realize that we have a good team, a great team that’s ready for state and playoff[s],” Welongo said. “I can’t wait for it.”
