Wisconsin Soccer Central

Jake Taylor started the weekend of his high school graduation in unique fashion: By playing in a professional soccer match.

The 18-year-old defender played the full 90 minutes for the Chicago Fire Reserves in their 2-1 loss to the Charlotte Eagles of USL PRO on Friday night in North Carolina. On Sunday afternoon, he'll graduate from Whitefish Bay High School.

Taylor was named the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state Player of the Year last fall and will play at Marquette starting this fall. NCAA rules allow players to participate with Major League Soccer reserve teams and maintain their college eligibility – his future Golden Eagles teammate, Jose "Coco" Navarro has played several matches for Real Salt Lake's reserves.

Taylor, a former Bavarian SC player, moved to the Fire during the winter and has played for their Under-17/18 team in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy this spring. He was one of three Academy players in the lineup Friday night and played the full 90 minutes at center back – he usually features at left back – and picked up a yellow card in the 12th minute.

The Fire took a 1-0 first-half lead, but yielded two goals in the 70th and 75th minutes as the host Eagles pulled out the victory. This the first season of a partnership between MLS and the United Soccer Leagues to have MLS reserve sides face teams from USL PRO, which is third-division league. 

• Casey Loyd (Cedarburg) scored her first goal in National Women's Soccer League play, converting a 26th-minute penalty kick to help FC Kansas City top the Chicago Red Stars 2-0 on Thursday night in Lisle, Ill. Defender Katie Kelly (Marquette) played the full 90 minutes in her first start of the season to help Kansas City (5-3-1) post the clean sheet.
• The newest Major Indoor Soccer League team has the same name as a former indoor team: the St. Louis Ambush. With the addition of the Ambush, the league is back up to seven sides for the 2013-14 season – the Wichita Wings announced earlier this month that they would not be returning to the MISL.