It was 293 days ago that the Yellowjacket men's soccer team made its N.C.A.A. debut. That debut, against the University of St. Thomas provided Yellowjacket soccer fans with a wildly entertaining debut into the Division III college "dance." Friday the Yellowjackets returned to the scene of last year's final game, opening a rugged 2018 schedule against another strong Tommies' team.

New year, new team, but unfortunately for the Yellowjackets, the result was the same.

St. Thomas scored a pair of goals late in the contest to take home the 2-0 victory in the 2018 opener for both clubs.

The hotly contested match was scoreless well into the second half, with both teams playing stifling defense, a dramatic departure from the last time the two teams met (they combined for seven goals in the N.C.A.A. playoff game). That changed in the 67th minute when Will Kidd took a through ball and shot to beat Yellowjacket goalkeeper Dalton VonKaenel (Eagan, Minn./Eagan H.S.), giving the Tommies the lead. Kidd increased the lead with his second goal of the match just over ten minutes later, making the final score 2-0.

VonKaenel took the loss in goal for the Yellowjackets, allowing two goals and making five saves.

Up Next: The Yellowjackets (0-1-0, 0-0-0 U.M.A.C.) will open the home portion of the schedule when they host Luther College. Game time from the N.B.C. Spartan Sports Complex is set for 12:00 p.m. Sunday.