MANKATO, Minn. – The Yellowjacket men's soccer team resumed conference play Saturday, hitting the road to face rival Bethany Lutheran. Both squads have displayed tough, physical matches throughout recent years, and today was no different.
In sweltering temperatures, the Yellowjackets notched a goal in the first half and another in the second half, leading to a 2-0 victory over BLC.
This victory marks the 'Jackets' fourth-straight conference win, scoring a combined 17 goals and allowing zero.
Match Notes
- The Yellowjackets wasted little time Saturday as Alfie Hudd (Exeter, England/Exeter) dished a pass to Jake Kidd (Superior, Wis./Superior), who made a move to juke Vikings goalkeeper Nick Lundberg and buried a goal in the 11th minute of play.
- Physicality from both teams began to show during the first half, ultimately leading to the first yellow card of the match. In all, 17 fouls were called in the contest.
- The final scoring play of the match came in the second half, as Aaron Shartin Folkert took a late foul inside the box, leading to a penalty. Josh Bellamy (High Wycombe, England/FAB Football Academy) lined up and rifled a shot past Lundberg, giving UWS a 2-0 lead. Bellamy keeps his perfect performance inside the box, as he's now converted on all three penalty kicks.
- Just seconds after Bellamy's goal, the Vikings quickly went on the offensive. BLC's Diogo Cavalcanti fired a shot through a significant amount of traffic, but Yellowjacket keeper Alex Paredes (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) stood his ground and made the save, keeping the momentum on the Yellowjackets' side.
- UW-Superior's only shots on goal were ones that found the back of the net. In total, the 'Jackets rifled seven shots, six of which came in the first half.
- Paredes added another clean sheet to his records, making two stops to Lundberg's none.
The Yellowjackets (5-2-2, 4-0 UMAC) takes the pitch Wednesday, facing Northland in circuit play. The opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex.
