After a 2-1 overtime victory against the University of Northwestern Ohio, the Point Park men’s soccer team is 3-1 on the season. How it has reached that point is different from past seasons.

“[Coach Jeroen Walstra] wants us to be very strong defensively,” said goalkeeper Zak Borzovoy, who was named KIAC (Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic) Men’s soccer defensive player of the week, said. “In past years, we’ve been struggling in the back. We haven’t been conceding many goals.”

Part of the reason for that is Borzovoy himself, who, in the win, Saturday saved a career high 13 shots. Borzovoy earned the starting job this season and has not disappointed.

“It helps a lot with my confidence,” Borzovoy said. “I feel like so much of how you play is in your mind. Being able to start helps me to show my true ability on the field.”

Borzovoy has started every game thus far and has saved 29 shots through Saturday’s victory. In addition, his goals against average is .980.

The defense itself also has stepped up and Borzovoy believes they have answered the call. Comprising the Pioneer defense are Matt Buckley, Paul Carr, Giovoni Lebrun and Josh Williams. 

Buckley, Carr and Lebrun each started in Saturday’s win, but Williams made his first appearance of the season and by all accounts it was a success. Carr assisted on Lucas Silva’s overtime winner Saturday and Buckley is arguably the most consistent of the team’s defenders.

I will be honest and say that I expected the defense to fall off with the loss of Matt Dziak and Brett Gwosden to graduation. However, by placing an emphasis on defense, both sides of the ball are more fundamentally sound than ever before. 

This is a physical Pioneers team as evidenced by its nine yellow cards and one red card. Getting cards lets an opponent know that Point Park will not be pushed around. In both home matches thus far, this has shown to be true as both the team’s offense and defense were unafraid of physical play and ultimately elevated the team’s play. 

All of this is encouraging as the team continues its stretch of four games in eight days. This is a grueling stretch which started with the overtime win against Northwestern Ohio and ends with seventh ranked and KIAC Conference opponent Rio Grande.