A new season of GISA Region 1-AAA boys soccer couldn't have started off any better for Westminster. The Wildcats traveled to Augusta Prep and beat their rival.

"I didn't know what to expect," Westminster coach Mike Freace said. "We have a young team, and this is the first time a lot of these guys have played in this rivalry."

The Westminster rookies, including a freshman and five sophomore starters, played a big part in the 4-0 region win over Augusta Prep on Tuesday.

Another newcomer to the rivalry, Wildcat junior Daniel Smith, made the biggest impact of all.

"It's a good rivalry. They all told me definitely this one is more special," he said. "We didn't want to treat it too special - just play our normal game."

Westminster's "normal" game included a hat trick by Smith. He opened the scoring on a penalty kick when he bounced a shot off the right post 17 minutes into the game.

Smith doubled the lead later in the half when he stuck one in with his left foot.

"First of all, (Viktor Hoempler) pretty much dribbled through the entire defense," Smith said. "He set me up to the left, and I just put it far post."

The 2-0 lead held through the first half. Augusta Prep had a chance to chip away to start the second half, but two golden opportunities - in the form of free kicks near the Westminster net - were wasted.

"Those free kicks - what a major letdown," Augusta Prep coach Forrest Wimberly said. "I don't think on any of our free kicks we even threatened their goal keeper. We're young, but we're old enough in the right places to where we should have done better than that."

Smith finished off his three-goal performance 12 minutes into the second half when he scored off a counter for a 3-0 lead.

The offensive show was nothing new. In Smith's first year at Westminster, the junior ranks second in all of GISA with 18 goals in 10 games.

"Our guys work hard to set him up," Freace said. "Today, like a lot of games, he was just at the right place at the right time."

Chandler Norris headed in the fourth goal of the game late in the second half.

By then, Westminster had the win sealed up. Even though it was only the Wildcats first region game, it also put them as a frontrunner for the title.

"Obviously, Augusta Prep is one of the challengers within the region so to beat them on their field in the first game is positive for us," said Freace, whose team is 5-2-3.