Defiance Ties Franklin In Double Overtime

FRANKLIN, IND.- The Defiance College men's soccer team tied Franklin (Ind.) College, 2-2, in double overtime in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener in Franklin, Ind. 

The first half saw Defiance (3-5-2, 0-0-1 HCAC) score the first goal of the game at the 11:06 minute mark when junior Christian Meister (Ontario) found the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. Franklin (0-5-2, 0-0-1) quickly responded and tied the game with a goal during the 15th minute, evening the game at 1-1. The two goals were the only points scored in the period as the two teams went into the locker rooms deadlocked at 1-1.

Freshman Ahmad Khalil (Hilliard/Hilliard Bradley), and juniors Sean Daley (Lima/Lima Central Catholic) and Nick Kleptz (Troy) came out strong in the second half attacking the net, but all shots were saved by the Franklin goalkeeper.  The Grizzlies finally broke the stalemate with the go-ahead goal at the 82:49 mark for the 2-1 advantage. Franklin looked to be headed to victory when Kleptz netted the equilizer with thirty seconds remaining in regulation off of a penalty kick. Neither team could find the back of the net in the final seconds, sending the game into overtime. 

Within two overtime periods, neither team was able to produce a goal. Daley was the only person able to produce a shot for the Yellow Jackets in overtime at the 103:06 mark, but was unable to score the winning goal as it was blocked by the Grizzly offense resulting in the game ending in a 2-2 tie. 

Sophomore Clay Musgrave (Upper Sandusky) played the entire game in net for DC. He allowed two goals against and made 13 saves.

With his penalty kick goal, Kleptz now has six on the season and brings his career total to 19 goals scored making him the program's all-time leader in that category.  Kleptz surpasses Brandon Able (2003-04) who previously held the mark with 18 goals.  In addition, Kleptz has one career assist for 39 total points which puts him currenlty third on the all-time points list.  

The Yellow Jackets will play again on Wednesday, Oct. 5 in Bluffton, Ohio as they take on HCAC-rival Bluffton University. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.