Yellowjackets Struggle in Second Half, Suffer 3-1 Defeat Against Park

Parkville, Mo. – Graceland University men's soccer faced a challenging 3-1 defeat against Park University in NAIA conference action on Saturday in Parkville.

The Yellowjackets gained an early advantage but were unable to maintain their lead against a determined Park side. Graceland opened the scoring in the 9th minute when Andrew Porter found the back of the net, with assists from Tyler Dailey and Stefano Mazzariol. The team showed effective ball movement and precision to break through Park's defense.

However, scoring opportunities were scarce for Graceland, who managed only nine shots with four on target throughout the match. Park responded before halftime, equalizing in the 38th minute with a goal from Grant Barry, assisted by Diego Quintana. The score remained tied at 1-1 heading into the break, with both teams engaging in a physical contest—Graceland committed five fouls, while Park tallied six.

In the second half, Park took control as Graceland struggled to regain momentum. Jacksyn McIntyre scored in the 70th minute with an assist from Julian Campos, putting Park ahead 2-1. They sealed the victory with a goal by Campos in the 86th minute, assisted by McIntyre.

Dither Beltran, who entered as goalkeeper for Graceland in the 40th minute, made four saves but couldn't prevent Park from scoring twice in the second half. Graceland's defense was under constant pressure, with Park taking 17 shots, seven of which were on target.

The match saw its share of fouls, with Graceland finishing with eight to Park's 12. Graceland earned only one corner kick, compared to five by Park, which helped the Pirates create several scoring chances.

Reflecting on the game, Graceland head coach Bryan Courtney commented, "Today wasn't our best performance – we weren't sharp as a staff or a team. We were really flat and didn't play our physical brand of soccer at all. There were some nice moments in the game, including our goal, but because we weren't sharp, it led to breakdowns in communication, which ultimately led to Park's goals."

He continued, "Most of our mistakes today were technical and can be cleaned up by watching film. That said, we don't make any excuses. Park is a very good soccer team, and we knew that coming in. Unfortunately, sometimes the best lessons learned come in the hardest form – a loss. Today is one of those days. This group of guys is driven and resilient. We'll learn from the mistakes made today and prepare ourselves for Wednesday's game against Mount Mercy."

Graceland will seek to return to winning ways in its next match on October 2nd in Lamoni, against the Mount Mercy Mustangs at the John Rasmussen Soccer Complex, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Yellowjackets' overall record now stands at 5-2-3 and 1-2-1 in HAAC play.

For more information on Graceland University men's soccer and the latest results, visit gujackets.com.