BELOIT, Wis. – With the assistance of one of the best individual performances in program history, the Grinnell College men's soccer team opened Midwest Conference play with a bang Saturday.
 
Jasper Yang '21 erupted for four goals, the ninth-best figure in program history and the best since Antonio DiMarco accomplished the feat in 2015, as Grinnell rolled over Beloit College 4-2. Grinnell's victory continued the Pioneers' recent domination of Beloit as they moved their winning streak against the Buccaneers to six games, dating back to 2012.
 
The win was also a dose of good fortune for the Pioneers as they snapped a two-match losing streak. Grinnell is now 4-3 overall, while Beloit dips to 0-1 in the MWC and 1-6-1 in all contests.
 
Yang, who now has seven goals on the season, went to work immediately when he found the back of the net in the eighth minute on an assist by Zach Steinberg '20. It was Steinberg's first assist of the year. Kyle Buse '20 registered his first assist of the year in the 30th minute when Yang scored again.
 
Leading 2-0 at halftime, Grinnell took a 3-0 lead in the 54th minute when Mikoto Kobayashi '20 recorded his team-high fourth assist of the year on Yang's goal. Caleb Ritter '21 also had an assist on the play, his first of the year. Beloit got on the scoreboard two minutes later, but Grinnell got some insurance in the 82nd minute on Yang's fourth goal of the contest that was assisted by Steinberg.
 
The shots battle was tied 14-all, with Grinnell getting nine shots on goal compared to Beloit's six. Yang took seven shots for Grinnell, Evan Sorenson '19 added three and Kobayashi, Noah Fluharty '19, Buse and Max Sorenson '22 added one apiece.
 
Pioneer keeper Jared Cloutier '20 recorded four saves while boosting his season mark to 4-3. Grinnell returns to Springer Field next weekend for a pair of league matches, starting with an 11 a.m. Saturday date with Lake Forest College.