Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm’s Levi Johnson scores a goal past Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Josiah Hoftyzer during a nonconference boys soccer game Thursday at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM — New Ulm opened up the new boys soccer season with a 3-1 win over Southwest Minnesota Christian Thursday at New Ulm High School.

“We’re working on our formation and what to do off the ball,” New Ulm head coach Tim Plocher said. “A lot of it was situational awareness, that’s kind of what’s killed us in the past. Just running to the ball, not knowing there’s two defenders behind. Even if they’re calling, you’re so focused on the ball, you don’t realize there’s guys on you. So we’ve been really focusing on that. Working on our finishes, that’s one thing we still got to do. We had a lot of shots, but we got to sneak a few in, which is nice.”

New Ulm fell to SMC 3-1 in the opener last year, but New Ulm reversed the fortunes this season.

Jackson Ocampo, Methodius Amoah and Levi Johnson all scored in the game, with Amoah, Michael Hames and Cole Frederick adding assists.

The first goal of the game was an own goal, put into play on a corner kick from Ocampo, who was credited with the goal, in the 16th minute. New Ulm continued to apply pressure as the half wore on, and that paid off as Amoah got the ball at the top of the goalie box and distributed it to Johnson, who just had to beat the SMC keeper for the second goal of the game with 3:19 to play in the half.

As the game continued into the second half, New Ulm improved its attack and ball movement, and that opened up a lane for Amoah to take it himself for a shot that glanced off the keeper’s hands into the net for a 3-0 lead.

“We talked at half time and said it was a little too close,” Plocher said. “Based on our skill level and knowledge and the fact we’ve been playing together for so long, we should have been winning a bit more. Right from the get-go, right after the half time kickoff, we had a set piece and Cole [Frederick] almost got a shot off, which is really nice, and that kind of set the pace for the rest of the half, which is good.”

SMC got a goal back in the 58th minute as Silas Van Essen scored on a corner kick, but New Ulm was able to hold on for the final 12 minutes of play to seal the win. Austin Krohn had four saves in net for New Ulm.

New Ulm will get another chance at revenge at Jordan on Saturday. New Ulm fell to Jordan 3-2 in the section tournament last season.