SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Yellowjacket men's soccer team has been a dominant force in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference since UW-Superior moved into the conference in 2015. In fact, entering play Friday, the Yellowjackets were riding a 35-game winning streak (including playoffs) against conference foes.
 
On a rainy afternoon at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex, the Yellowjackets played host to Bethany Lutheran, the team they faced first in a full-blooded affair during the 2021 spring season, and later in the UMAC title game in late April. Both times the Yellowjackets came out on top.
 
The latest chapter in the budding rivalry was relatively uneventful compared to previous contests, but in the end still provided plenty of drama.
 
Bethany Lutheran knotted the match midway through the second half and then scored on a free kick early in overtime to defeat the Yellowjackets 2-1, ending their conference winning streak that dated back to Sept. 18, 2018.
 
The Yellowjackets opened the scoring on a beautiful goal. Dylan Hanegraaf (Rose Creek, Minn./Austin) started the play, moving the ball to Blake Perry (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) who worked to his left before playing the ball toward the goal. In the middle of the box Protus Babaya (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) directed a header into the lower left corner for his fourth of the year, giving the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead. That goal came in the 11th minute.

It stayed that way until well into the second half when Bethany Lutheran tied it. Max Busch, one of the best offensive players in the UMAC, got the ball in the left side of the box and sent a shot from his right foot high into the upper right corner to make it 1-1 into the 73rd minute.
 
Early in overtime the Yellowjackets were called for a foul near midfield and Liam Peterson took the free kick for the Vikings. He launched a high ball that Yellowjacket goalkeeper Alex Paredes (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) got a piece of, but in the ensuing rush he couldn't hang on and Busch tipped it into the goal, giving the Vikings the 2-1 victory.
 
Paredes made six saves in the match.
 
It's a quick turnaround for the Yellowjackets, who are back home Saturday as they take on Martin Luther in UMAC play. The opening kick is set for 2 p.m. at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex.