Yellowjackets 4, Bethany Lutheran 1

SUPERIOR, Wis.: There are some quirks to the 2018 schedule for the Yellowjacket men's soccer team. One quirk sees the Yellowjackets playing at home for five straight Saturdays (this Saturday was the second of those five), and another had them playing back-to-back matches against Bethany Lutheran.

Earlier in the week the Yellowjackets, behind a James Bruce (Gladstone, Mich./Gladstone) hat trick, blanked the Vikings in Mankato. Saturday saw the teams playing in a different venue, but the result was pretty much the same.

And again Bruce was a central figure. The junior forward scored twice, including the game-winning goal as the Yellowjackets bullied their way past Bethany Lutheran 4-1 on a cloudy and cool Saturday at the N.B.C. Spartan Sports Complex.

The Yellowjackets came out aggressive, pushing the play pinning the Vikings on their own end of the pitch. It didn't take long for the Yellowjackets to pierce the Vikings' armor. Bruce started the play, sending a perfect ball from the right side to Adrian Leal (Alicante, Spain/IES Cabo de la Huerta) in the middle, and Leal made no mistake, scoring his first goal of the season to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.

Less than 10 minutes later the Yellowjackets expanded the lead. This time Bruce was on the receiving end, taking a through ball from Eric Watson (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Hammarskjold) and delivering his eighth goal of the year to make it a 2-0 score. Mason Tynsky (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) also assisted.

After outshooting the Vikings 17-3 in the first half, the Yellowjackets came out and continued to push the pace, and the play, to start the second half. With just over 12 minutes elapsed in the half the lead bulged to 3-0, and again it was that man, as Bruce got a rebound on the left side of the box and scored his second of the match and team-leading ninth goal of the year. Watson earned his second assist of the match on the marker.

Bethany Lutheran broke its scoreless streak against the Yellowjackets in the 61st minute, but just about 10 minutes later the Yellowjackets got that goal back. Miguel Ocampo (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park) let a shot go that hit the goal post, but Aaron Blanchard (Omaha, Neb./Millard North) got the rebound and scored his first of the year, making the final score 4-1.

The Yellowjackets handily outshot the Vikings, 32-5 for the match, and had a 15-4 edge in shots on goal. Bruce led the Yellowjackets with four shots, while Watson, Ocampo and Leonardo Paredes (Uberlandia, Brazil/Colegio Sao Paschoall) had two each.

Dalton VonKaenel (Eagan, Minn./Eagan H.S.) got the start for the Yellowjackets and saw his record improve to 6-1-1 after making three saves. Ulrik Lager (Vollen, Norway/Asker VGS) came on in relief and played the entire second half.

Up Next: It's a quick turnaround for the Yellowjackets (8-2-1, 4-0-1 U.M.A.C.) as they host Saint Mary's Sunday afternoon. Match time is set for 4:00 p.m. at the N.B.C. Spartan Sports Complex.