MEN’S SOCCER

The Forester men’s soccer team dropped a tight 1-0 decision to Taylor Saturday afternoon at King Stadium in a match loaded with Crossroads League postseason implications.

Huntington entered the afternoon sitting in eighth place in the conference standings, holding a half-point edge over ninth-place Taylor for the final qualifying spot in the upcoming eight-team Crossroads League Tournament. With the victory, the Trojans (8-6-3, 2-5-1 CL) vaulted past the Foresters (4-8-2, 1-5-2 CL) with just one regular-season match remaining.

The contest proved to be a defensive battle through the opening 45 minutes, with both sides trading chances before heading into the intermission locked in a scoreless tie. Taylor broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Jakob Karlson found the back of the net off an assist from Matt Yoder at the 57:10 mark.

Junior goalkeeper Zane Hydock delivered a strong 90-minute shift in net for the Foresters, stopping six of the seven shots on goal he faced while keeping Huntington within striking distance down to the final horn. Sophomore forward Max Nayo also contributed defensively with a first-half defensive save.

Offensively, Huntington generated 10 total shots, putting two on target via strikes from Nayo and senior Henry Heaney. Taylor held an 11-10 edge in overall shots, an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal, and a 6-4 margin in corner kicks.

To secure a spot in the eight-team Crossroads League Tournament, the Foresters face a clear scenario on Wednesday: Huntington must defeat Mount Vernon on the road, while Grace must top Taylor.

Senior Day Recognition
Prior to kickoff, Huntington University honored its 12-member senior class for their dedication and contributions to the Forester men’s soccer program: Isaac Smith, Matheus Menegueli, Martin Ponce, Clay Wieringa, Jonathan Ruiz, Colton Knefelkamp, Henry Heaney, Kovan Drenth, Will Galley, Jonathan Lopez, Sebastian Estrella, and Chirapat Pewkleang.

Up Next
The Foresters conclude regular season play on Wednesday, traveling to Mount Veron for a pivotal Crossroads League matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.