The Taylor men’s soccer team begins the heart of their season with their first conference matchup against No. 7 Bethel Pilots on Sept. 24.
With a 6-2 record, the Taylor men’s soccer team is riding the momentum of a 2-0 win over Indiana University Columbus. Bethel, who has a 6-1-1 record, is on a five-game winning streak, their only loss coming in a tight 1-0 game against No. 4 Cumberlands.
Sophomore goalkeeper Connor Shaw believes the Pilots will be the team’s biggest test.
“I think Bethel feels like a great first game to show us what we need to do, what we need to be better at, and where we stack up for strength,” Shaw said.
In his first year as the every-week starter, Shaw has recorded 25 saves in eight games with three shutouts, allowing just one goal per game.
He said one of the team’s biggest strengths is the way they play with one another. They control the ball on their own half and progressively build plays to create scoring opportunities.
“As long as we just keep doing what we’ve been doing, staying compact on defense and staying super organized, it’s gonna be hard to break us down,” Shaw said. “And the more we play together, the more and more I’m seeing connection on offense.”
The team’s defense rarely loses the ball in the back before passing to a wing forward or striker, he said, but he added that there will be a noticeable increase in difficulty as they transition to the Crossroads League stretch of the season.
Taylor has yet to play a ranked school and will enter a stretch where four of their next five games will be against ranked conference opponents.
The Huntington Foresters clinched the 2024 CL title, breaking Bethel’s four-year winning streak and setting the Pilots’ agenda to recapture the 2025 title. As the conference portion of the season begins, Bethel is holding onto a five-game winning streak and currently holds the No.1 spot in the CL standings. The Trojans sit at No. 5.
Shaw said the Trojans will need to prepare for upcoming matchups, noting the elevated competition level.
“I think the biggest difference is going to be the physicality and the athleticism,” Shaw said. “I think a lot of the teams in the Crossroads (League) have really fast and strong guys, and the games are always chippy.”
The Trojans have been awarded five penalty kicks and drawn 23 yellow cards from opposing teams.
Shaw said that in previous games, the Trojans tended to rush plays, producing fewer quality chances. Staying strong on the ball and moving it quickly will be key. The Trojans average nearly 14 shots per game, while allowing opponents eight per game. They have converted 18 goals out of 109 total shots.
Shaw said winning by one or two goals has gotten the job done, thanks to the team’s solid defense.
“Our system is working out,” he said. “I think we’re about to hit our stride, and that’s perfect for conference play.”
Hitting their stride will be important as the Trojans attempt to steal games from No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan (5-2-1), No. 24 Spring Arbor (5-4) and No. 15 Marian (5-2-2) over the next two and a half weeks.
Taylor kicks off its conference campaign against Bethel on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at Turner Stadium.
