Boys regional soccer: Donny Taylor stands tall between pipes for Medina

MACEDONIA — Naturally a reserved person, Medina goalkeeper Donny Taylor had to step out of his comfort zone in order to become successful at his chosen position on the soccer pitch. Taylor had to get loud, be assertive and play larger than his 5-foot-9 frame. Luckily for Medina's boys soccer team, Taylor has done all that and so much more while helping the Bees advance to the Division I state semifinals for the second consecutive season. The senior goalkeeper made seven saves on eight shots Saturday, including three in the first half that were highlight worthy, to help Medina hold off Walsh Jesuit 2-1 in the Division I, Region 1 final. The Bees (20-0-1) advanced to face a familiar foe in St. Ignatius (13-3-3) Wednesday at Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium with a trip to the state final on the line. One save in particular stood out and came when the Warriors' Brady Catanzarite broke free along the right sideline, gathered the ball and angled toward the near post. Taylor stepped out, squared to the attacking forward, cut off Catanzarite's angle and made a tremendous kick save from point-blank range to keep the game scoreless. "I just try to keep my team in the game," Taylor said. "If I am focused in, I am someone who trusts myself a lot on breakaways and things like that. I would say it's probably my specialty. I just try to keep my team in games, do my job and keep a clean sheet." Taylor has been the primary last line of defense for the Bees for two seasons, combining with defenders to tally 16 total shutouts, an impressive 33-4-5 overall record and a 0.79 goals against average. "I think Donny Taylor is the best goalkeeper in the state," Medina coach Doug Coreno said. "He's a tremendous shot stopper, and he catches everything clean. The moment is never too big for him. He is one of our MVPs today for sure." The 2023 team with Taylor as the backstop tied the 2019 school record for wins in a season with 20, having allowed just 13 goals (0.62/game) and more than one in just two games. A big key for any goalkeeper — outside of the simply-put "stop the ball from going in the net" — is how effectively and loudly he communicates with teammates. This aspect of the game is what Taylor believes he has had to work the most on. "To be honest, growing up I was a really, really quiet and shy kid," Taylor said. "Even in soccer, I never talked. It is just something that the coaches have built upon and made me talk and made me speak out to the guys. I can see everything, and it's just pointing things out to the guys to make sure they see them as well." The work has definitely been evident to his teammates, who have no doubts or concerns about being hung out to dry with Taylor between the posts. "He is a rock back there," defender Dylan Eckert said. "I feel very comfortable with him back there, and he has been a great asset to the team. We feel safe. We never want to make it hard on him, but we know if it has to come to that he'll be solid." The All-Gazette keeper is also familiar with looking down at the opposite side of the field and seeing much larger players in the opposing goal, but his talent and ability to react quickly has made his size a moot point. "He is fantastic," defender Lincoln Horton said. "Everybody looks at him and sees an undersized guy between the poles, but he makes every big save. One-on-one, it doesn't matter. He is going to get to the ball. He is so agile, and he is the best goalie I have ever played with and ever will." Contact Chad Grant at sports@medina-gazette.com.