And when you ask WCHS head coach Craig Signorin about his rookie, well, let’s just say he has a hard time hiding his excitement about the future of a program led by Perez.

“He’s kind of our kept secret in a way, but obviously it’s going to come out sooner or later,” Signorin said. “He’s good, but he’s got a long way to go too. He could get a lot better.”

Now that’s a scary thought. For future opponents anyway.

Lynx Field was Perez’s personal playground Tuesday evening, as he dodged and weaved his way through the Belmond-Klemme defense for 80 minutes. He notched the first hat trick of his career that’s just two matches old and added three more assists for good measure to lead WCHS to a 10-2 rout of the Broncos.

WCHS senior Martin Kasonga celebrates his second first-half goal against Belmond-Klemme on Tuesday. He was one of three Lynx players with multiple goals in a 10-2 victory. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Perez launched a free ball inside the left post less than 15 minutes into the bout and it was a runaway from there. He had two goals in the opening 40 to help WCHS (1-1) built an insurmountable 5-1 cushion.

Forward Martin Kasonga and Ricardo de Paz Ajanel cashed in on two goals each, and Kasonga also assisted on two other scores. Matt Perin, Everado Hernandez and David Guiterrez all added one goal.

The Perez Show was just getting started following the early goal that put WCHS in front to stay. He beat a pair of defenders and rifled a cross to de Paz Ajanel for a 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute, and then just before the half sent a screamer into the back of the net from just outside of the box.

Perez assisted on Perin’s goal in the 69th minute by flicking the ball through the legs of a Bronco defender to break free and then leaving it off for Perin from just a few yards away. Perez scored his third goal on another free kick in the 70th and then, for good measure, sent another perfectly executed cross to de Paz Ajanel in the 75th.

“(Belmond-Klemme’s) formation allowed him to (operate),” Signorin said of Perez. “David was in there and played a really good game, but he sat and played more defensive and allowed Eduardo to do his thing.”

Webster City’s Matt Perin attempts to head in a shot off a corner kick against Belmond-Klemme on Tuesday. The Lynx breezed to a 10-2 win. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Kasonga scored both of his goals in a three-minute span of the first half to expand the lead to 4-0 at the time. Guiterrez finished off the goal rush in the final minute off a Perin assist.

WCHS rifled off 39 shots, 16 of which were on frame. It took six corners in the match’s first 10 minutes without capitalizing and had 16 in the match.

“It was frustrating with the chances early, but this is an inexperienced team and we’re still learning,” Signorin said. “When we started to get away from the sloppy play and connected three or four passes, we scored almost every time.”

B-K (0-1) scored once in each half and had five shot on goal. Lynx goalie Gage Rossing made three saves.

WCHS 10, Belmond-Klemme 2

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Tuesday at Webster City

Bel-Klemme 1 1 — 2

WCHS 5 5 — 10

Goals — B-K: Eduin Gonzalez (35′), Jason Najera (63′); WCHS: Eduardo Perez (15′), Ricardo de Paz Ajanel (Perez assist, 23′), Martin Kasonga (Matt Perin assist, 33′), Kasonga (Jake Lahr assist, 35′), Perez (Kasonga assist, 39′), Perin (Perez assist, 49′), Everado Hernandez (Kasonga assist, 68′), Perez (70′), de Paz Ajanel (Perez assist, 75′), David Guiterrez (Perin assist, 80′). Shots — B-K 9, WCHS 34. Shots on goal — B-K 5, WCHS 16. Saves — B-K 6 (Cohen Sifert), WCHS 3 (Gage Rossing). Corner kicks — B-K 1, WCHS 14.