A 2-1-1 record may not seem all that impressive. To a rebuilding boys soccer program like Hinsdale South, that season-opening performance against quality opponents could be a sign of good things to come. One day after knocking off district rival Hinsdale Central in the opening round of the Red Devil Cup, the Hornets continued in the right direction on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Lincoln-Way East (2-3) in Darien.

Junior TJ Kubiesa was the star once again for the Hornets with two goals, which increased his season total to five.

"We're pumped about this team, especially after (the win over Hinsdale Central)," said Kubiesa, whose team also tied Wheaton Warrenville South 4-4 and lost to Lyons 2-0. "We still have more work to do, but we know the talent is there." After Edwin Cisneros gave the Hornets a 1-0 first-half lead, Kubiesa blew the game open with two goals in a nine-minute span midway through the second half. Both times the forward was in the right place to pounce on a loose ball inside the box and drill it past Lincoln-Way East goalie Matt Gazdziak. "Our schedule is always tough to start each season, and it's giving us a chance to see what we're made of," said Hinsdale South coach James VanDenburgh, who praised the play of midfielders Joey Gangi and Nick Henry, defender Adam Garcia and Kubiesa. As for the Griffins, it was another case of missed opportunities. Lincoln-Way East had four corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes, but each time Hinsdale Central's backline of Joe Petrak, Stephen Beavis, Matteo Hoch and Garcia came up big. Andrew Young got the visitors on the board with less than six minutes to play, sneaking a shot past Hornets goalie Paras Patel from inside the box. "It really comes down to confidence, and that's something we're lacking right …More