Yellow Jackets handed 5-1 loss in season opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Defiance College
(0-1-0)
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
|
Taylor (IN)
(2-0-0)
|
2 | 3 | 5 |
Team Stats
Taylor (IN)
| Game Statistics | Defiance College | Taylor (IN) |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 8 (1) | 24 (11) |
| Saves | 6 | 0 |
| Fouls | 5 | 17 |
| Corner Kicks | 7 | 10 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
UPLAND, Ind. – In the 2024 season opener for Defiance College men's soccer, the Taylor Trojans were fueled by two quick goals en route to handing the Yellow Jackets a 5-1 loss.
The Yellow Jackets (0-1) also opened the NAIA era for the men's soccer program with their first meeting against the Trojans (2-0) since 2007. Taylor's win snapped a five-game winning streak in the series for DC, who last defeated Defiance in 2000.
Taylor outshot Defiance 24-8 and had two goals from Yoder, one in each half. Defiance was able to create seven corner kick situations to be narrowly outdone by Taylor's 10. DC junior Jacob Saxby netted the Yellow Jackets' lone score, the second of his career, during the 79th minute. His score cut Taylor's lead to three, but the Trojans tacked on their fifth goal of the contest two minutes later. Starting with Elias Munoz in the 76th minute, the two teams combined for three goals in just a four minute span to finish the scoring for the night.
THE TURNING POINT
The Trojans converted the first scoring opportunity of the evening during the third minute of action when Justin Devlin split the pipes for the first score of the contest. Holding on to the momentum, Taylor's Matt Yoder took a feed from Levi Yoder and booted the ball past the DC keeper to lift the home squad to a 2-0 advantage just 6:32 into the match.
A CLOSER LOOK
- Gabriel Lorenzetti narrowly missed a scoring opportunity with a header off the post in the 82nd minute to keep the scoring frenzy going.
- Taylor played a physical game and racked up 17 fouls but neither team was issued a card.
- Zach Canterbury recorded his first-career start in goal for the Yellow Jackets and batted away six shot attempts.
- Tyler Fritchley and Jack Stanoikovich each logged two shot attempts apiece for Defiance.
- Newcomers to the program Brent Rader, Lorenzetti, Henrique Wozniak, Samuel Butler, and Tyler Hall all made their program or career debuts for Defiance.
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets will compete in Defiance's first-ever Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference contest for any sport on Saturday night at Cleary. Kickoff against the Cougars is scheduled for 7 p.m.
-JACKETS-