Face of Jeannette boys soccer program sets big-time goals

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Jordan Taylor doesn’t just have one goal in mind for soccer season; he has about 100.

All right, so maybe that is a stretch for the senior who seems like he has been playing at Jeannette for a decade.

Four-year starters tend to become the face of a team, and Taylor has played the heavy many nights on a unit that finally made the playoffs in 2021. It was the Jayhawks’ first postseason appearance since they took the pitch in 1997.

“I am much more experienced now than when I first came into the program,” Taylor said. “I didn’t know what I was getting into at first. We have a pretty good team now, and some good guys around me.”

With that being said, Taylor thinks he can have a career year.

The All-WPIAL forward already has 111 career goals, but wants more — a lot more.

He poured in six scores in Jeannette’s 11-0 win over Greensburg Salem in the season opener.

“I don’t know, it might be unreachable, but I’d like to get as close to 200 (goals) as possible,” he said. “I don’t care if I’m 20 or 30 short. I’d at least like to get to 150.

“Making the playoffs was great for us, and we’d like to get back there.”

First-year coach Steve Pons knew he was inheriting a special talent in Taylor, whose club season with BVB blended seamlessly into the fall WPIAL season.

“When I applied for the job, I started watching film on the team and he stuck out,” Pons said. “I met him at sign-ups, and he just came across as a really good guy. He’ll lead the line for us.”

Taylor, who scored 34 goals as a junior, said he likely will play striker, but don’t be surprised if he moves around. He’s tough to trap because he shifts all over the field.

“When I watched him play cup, he was at right wing, then left back,” said Pons, who makes the trek from Imperial to coach the Jayhawks. Pons was an assistant on the Moon girls team that won a WPIAL title in 2004.

Taylor, who buses tables at The Nest in downtown Jeannette, is used to moving on the fly. He is one of the WPIAL’s faster, shiftier players.

He once earned a $65 tip at work. Taylor had cleared the table and pocketed the gratuity before the customers walked back onto Clay Avenue and got into their vehicle.

“I have rotated from striker to center mid and right back,” he said. “I think I will primarily be at striker this year.”

And that should not only make it a fun year, but it also could open things up for his experienced teammates. Jeannette returns seven starters, including seniors Austin Emery and Jared Vincent and junior Jorel Taylor, Jordan’s brother, among others.

Emery is kicking for the football team.

The question mark was at goalkeeper, where two freshmen were competing in camp for the starting nod.

“I think our attack can be really good,” Jordan Taylor said. “We’ve been practicing a lot more. We didn’t practice as much last year. It was different last year, like, ‘If we lose, we lose. Oh well.’ We’re more focused.”

Pons said the players run drills early in practices, showing up early to fire shots at the goal before he arrives.

“They seem to have a lot of fun,” the coach said. “They like being here.

“I asked them what their goal was, and they said playoffs. I said, well, that’s good but how about a state title? They looked at me like I was crazy. That has to be the goal for everyone.”

Taylor is hoping to play college soccer like his mother, Latrobe alum Savannah Rennels. She played at Bucknell and American.

Jordan Taylor attended prospect camps at Duquesne and Robert Morris.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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