Defiance Ties In Double Overtime With Manchester

DEFIANCE, OHIO- The Defiance College men's soccer team tied Manchester (Ind.) University in double overtime, 2-2, in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field. 

In the first half of play, the Yellow Jacket (7-5-3, 2-2-2 HCAC) offense had full control of the field as they scored the first goal of the game just a little over one minute into play. Freshman Pedro Chavez (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson) scored his first goal of the season at the 1:21 mark, putting the Jackets on top with a score of 1-0. Junior Nick Kleptz (Troy) was credited with an assist on the goal. 

During the 15th minute, freshman Jarod Brossia (Curtice/Genoa) added another tick to the Jacket score with an assist by freshman Cody Sutter (Millbury/Lake) to increase the margin to 2-0. 

Defiance produced two additional shots in the period, both coming from off the foot of freshman Ahmad Khalil (Hilliard/Hilliard Bradley), but both would miss their marks. Despite outshooting DC, 8-4, in the first half, the Yellow Jackets maintained their two-goal advantage heading into the locker rooms. 

The second half did not mirror the first half, as Manchester (5-7-3, 1-4-1 HCAC) tied the game up with two goals of their own. Just over six-and-a-half minutes into play, the Spartans scored their first goal of the contest, cutting the deficit in half, 2-1. Then during the 65th minute, Manchester struck again with its second goal to even the score at 2-2. 

The two Spartan goals would be all the scoring in the second period as both teams were tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation, forcing overtime. 

The first overtime period began with a quick shot by Manchester, but sophomore goalkeeper Clay Musgrave (Upper Sandusky) came up with the save to preserve the tie. The Jackets then recorded back-to-back shot attempts of their own which included a shot on net by junior Christian Meister (Ontario) that ended in a save.  Senior Victor Trifiro (Akron/Walsh Jesuit) also recorded a shot on goal late in the period, that too, ended up in the hands of the Spartan net minder.  Neither team could net the game-winner as the game would be decided in a final overtime period.

The second overtime saw each team take a shot on goal, but both were kept out of the back of the net.  With under three minutes to go, Manchester had an excellent scoring opportunity with a penalty shot, but Musgrave came up with a critical save on the attempt, keeping the game tied at 2-2.  The final minutes saw no additional shots by either team as the contest ended in a 2-2 tie. 

Musgrave played all 110:00 minutes in net for the Jackets. He recorded six saves and allowed two goals against. 

The Yellow Jackets host Hanover (Ind.) College on Saturday (Oct. 22) as the Jackets honor five seniors on senior day. The contest will take place in a doubleheader with the women's soccer team, who will also be honoring their lone senior. The women will begin the day with their matchup against the Panters at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3:30 p.m.