Men's Soccer Battles Concordia in Season Home Opener

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College men's soccer team took on Concordia (Mich.) Universit in the home aand season opener as part of the Purple and Gold Classic, but fell to the Cardinals, 2-1. 

Defiance (0-1) fought hard in the first half, but it was Concordia (3-1) who struck first with a goal at the 16:01 mar to take the 1-0 lead. The Jacket defense defended the goal well the rest of the first period. Offensively, sophomore Adam Ordel (Lima/Elida) took the first shot of the season four minutes into play, missing high.

Juniors Christian Meister (Ontario) and Nick Kleptz (Troy) also gave DC scoring chances later in the half, but both shots ended up in the hands of the Concordia goalkeeper. The Jackets tallied three more shot attempts in the period, but DC was held off the scoreboard as the Cardinals headed into the intermission with the one-goal lead.

The second half began with both teams fighting for possession of the ball. Three minutes into the second half of play, senior Victor Trifiro (Akron/Walsh Jesuit) kept the offensive threat going for the Jackets with a header, but ended up missing wide. Just before the 74th minute, junior Sean Daley (Lima/Lima Central Catholic) put the Jackets on the scoreboard with his first goal, and the team's first goal of the season, at the 73:55 mark to even the game at 1-1.  Freshman Mohamed Abdiraham (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) was credited with an assist on the goal, his first collegiate point.

The Cardianals answered the goal with a score of their own three minutes later to go back up, 2-1.  The goal proved to be the difference maker as Concordia held off Defiance down the stretch to edge out the Jackets by the final of 2-1. 

In net for DC, sophomore Clay Musgrave (Upper Sandusky) played all 90 minutes. Musgrave allowed two goals against and had six saves for the night. 

The Yellow Jackets will return to play on Sunday (Sept. 4) when they take on Cleary (Mich.) University in their final game of the Purple & Gold Classic at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field.  The game is slated to begin at 3 p.m.