DC Men Earn Draw at Earlham in Key HCAC Tilt

RICHMOND, Ind. – The Defiance College men's soccer team battled to a 1-1 tie at Earlham on Tuesday evening in a weather-shortened affair. The action was stopped with just over five minutes remaining in the second overtime session due to lightning.

The Yellow Jackets entered the game in sixth place with seven points in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings and just two points behind a three-way tie for third place. DC was looking to improve its standing because the top four teams at the end of the season qualify for the HCAC tournament. The winner of the tourney receives an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

The game was a tale of two halves as Earlham controlled much of the first half. The Quakers jumped out with an early goal and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the game's 14th minute as Corey Cambell scored for Earlham.

The Jackets were unable to control the game with possession or offense as the Quakers outshot DC by a total of 13-2 going into the half.

Defiance was determined not to go down without a fight as it picked up its intensity and dominated Earlham in the second stanza. The Purple and Gold outshot the Quakers 10-2 in the second half and got the goal it desperately needed right before the end of regulation.

Freshman Chad Brooks was the hero, as he scored his first career goal as a Yellow Jacket in the 89th minute to level the score at 1-1. Assisting on the goal was senior captain Joe Loftis. The assist is the second of the season for Loftis.

The late goal from Brooks forced the game into overtime. This was the second overtime for the Jackets in as many games. Both teams buckled down defensively for the extra session, neither wanting to make the fatal mistake. Halfway through the second overtime period the game was called due to lightning with the score still tied at one goal apiece.

With the draw the Jackets earned one point and remain two points behind the coveted fourth place position. DC did gain ground on fifth place Anderson and are currently one point out of a fifth place tie.

Next up for the Jackets is a home contest against HCAC opponent Mount St. Joseph College which could go a long way in determining both teams' playoff fates. The game is on Saturday, October 22 and is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. At halftime Defiance will be honoring its seniors with senior day festivities.