Park’s varsity boys’ soccer team pulled quickly ahead of Bloomington Jefferson Sept. 26, finishing the game with a 3-1 score in their favor after Jefferson scored the first goal.

The team has been on a winning streak since their tie with Chanhassen Sept 14. According to mnsoccerhub.com, Park’s win against Jefferson has allowed them to take the first place spot in the conference.

Varsity head coach Chato Alvarado said one element that the team has improved on communication and teamwork since the beginning of the year.

“I can hear the players talking a little more now than the beginning of the season,” Alvarado said. “The consistency on how we’ve been practicing and the way we talk about the practice has helped.”

Senior player Antonio Olivas Reyes said although communication has improved over the course of the season, it could always be better.

“(Communication) has got a little bit better, but it’s not a hundred percent there. We still can hear people talking,” Olivas Reyes said.

Alvarado said recent successes can be attributed to the team as a whole.

“I think it’s like everyone has been contributing, not one player is above everybody else. Every time they go in, they keep us alive. They keep the momentum going,” Alvarado said.

Junior player Cole Beaton said senior goalkeeper William Phelan has contributed to improvements among teammates during games.

“I’d say it starts in the back with (Phelan), he talks a lot so it’s good for the team,” Beaton said.

Senior Abati Dedefo, who scored the team’s first two goals of the game, said he played a different position than he is used to in order to get an advantage against Jefferson.

“(Jefferson has) great forwards and midfielders, so I normally play defender but (Alvarado) made me play midfield,” Dedefo said.

Beaton said team bonding off the field has hlped players get more comfortable with each other during games.

“(Communication has) improved with everyone getting to know each other, and everyone is getting more confident as the season goes on since we keep winning,” Beaton said.

Alvarado said the team was thrown off by Jefferson’s strong start in the second half, but Park soon regained control.

“Fortunately we didn’t let them score, and towards the end of the half we were able to connect some passes and even create of opportunities to score,” Alvarado said.

The team’s next game will take place at 5 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Richfield high school.