Olivet opens 2024 season with 3-2 win over Defiance

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet men's soccer team won its season-opener against Defiance (Ohio) College, 3-2, today at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

• Final Score: Olivet 3, Defiance 2
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 1-0-0 overall, Defiance 0-5-0 overall

• The Comets had a chance to take the lead in the 39th minute but a penalty kick was saved by the Defiance goalkeeper.
• The Yellowjackets answered 37 seconds later when Jack Stanoikovich scored a goal.
• Olivet quickly leveled the score 73 seconds later. Senior Zachary Stephan served the ball into the box on a corner kick, where junior Aidan Reynolds re-directed the ball into the net at the far post.
• The score stayed 1-1 at halftime.
• The Comets went ahead 2-1 just 77 seconds into the second half. Junior Kyle Buchan's pass found the feet of junior Tyler Brooks who ripped an angled shot into the upper right corner of the goal.
• Olivet added to its lead in the 50th minute. Junior Carter Scheel's shot was stopped but not corralled by the keeper. Freshman Abraham Jimenez gathered the rebound and his shot went into the back of the net.
• Defiance made the score 3-2 in the 71st minute but could never find the equalizer.

• Olivet totaled 19 shots compared to 14 for the Yellowjackets.
• Jimenez recorded a team-best five shots, while Reynolds had four.
• Sophomore Nicholas Van Port Fleet collected seven saves, while playing all 90 minutes in goal.

• Today's game was the 16th all-time meeting between Defiance and Olivet in men's soccer. Olivet now leads the series, 15-0-1. The Comets have outscored the Yellowjackets, 63-17, in the 16 games.
• Brooks' and Reynolds' goals were the first in each of their Olivet careers.

• Olivet hosts Ohio Christian University next Wednesday, September 4, for the second game of a soccer doubleheader. The Comet women also play Ohio Christian at 1:30 p.m., with the men's game to follow at approximately 4 p.m.