Kyle Keck | Echo
The Taylor men's soccer team fell to the Goshen Maple Leafs 1-0 in the Crossroads League semifinal Saturday night, ending the Trojans' season.
The No. 2-seeded Trojans could not catch a break when none of their 15 shots found the back of the net. The Maple Leafs entered the match as the sixth-seed and took down the Trojans' defense with a late second-half toe poke in traffic.
Goshen's goal was a product of minimal opportunities as Taylor only allowed eight shots total. For Taylor, bouncing back from the 1-0 deficit was too tall a task.
"They are a tough defensive team and they found a way to finish one of the few chances they got," senior Tim Miller said. "When they scored in the second half, it was difficult for us to break them down in the remaining time left."
The Trojans finished their season with a 13-6 record, 7-2 in Crossroads League play. Taylor went into the tournament on a hot streak, winning five of its last six matches. The team began to peak at the right point of the season, but Goshen's lone goal was enough to punch Taylor's ticket home in shocking fashion.
"I was in shock after we lost; I couldn't believe it," senior Danny Cawley said. "I fully expected us to get to the conference final this year and knew we were good enough to make a run. It was tough because in games like that you need a bit of a break, but it didn't happen, and they executed their game plan well."
Goshen will move on to face Indiana Wesleyan in the Crossroads League finals game, a match that Taylor strived toward all season.
Though the Trojans tripped up earlier than they hoped, the season's exciting journey was unforgettable for the seniors.
"This year was a great year that I will never forget," Miller said. "We had a lot of success on the field that we can be proud of. I will always share a special bond with the other seniors, and I feel like we have grown to all be brothers throughout the process."Photograph by Josh Adams
