Season's First Clean Sheet Propels Men's Soccer to Victory

DEFIANCE, OHIO - A rainy Tuesday afternoon at Winsper-Knobel Memorial saw the Defiance College men's soccer team host the Thiel College Tomcats. For the first time this season, the Yellow Jackets held their opponents scoreless, giving way to the 2-0 victory. 

The two sides began the match with alternating spells of possession, each creating chances. Neither side was able to break though in the first period despite the combined 13 shots. The highlight of the defensive success for the Yellow Jackets came in 32nd minute. Clay Musgrave (Upper Sandusky / Upper Sandusky) was called into action with a Tomcat attacker bearing down on his goal, a quick kick save saw the ball fall into another Thiel players path before Musgrave quickly made another diving save. The senior netminder's 7 saves in the match earned his, as well as the team's, first clean sheet of the 2018 campaign. 

The Yellow Jacket offense found their stride in the second period by way of a free kick. After a drawing a foul near the endline, Jarod Brossia (Curtice / Genoa) stepped up looking to hit a ball with pace into the box. Brossia's well-weighted pass found the diving head of defender Bennett Pack (Glasgow, Ky. / Glasgow) who nudged it passed the Thiel goalkeeper. The Tomcats continued to create chances, adding five shots to their tally in the second half. 

The Purple and Gold looked poised to hold the visitors at bay and secure the 1-0 victory, when with just 43 ticks left on the clock Adam Ordel (Lima / Elida) found space down the touchline and into the 18-yard box. After a few touches, Ordel played a ball across the box to Christian Meister (Ontario / Ontario) who finished it home to solidify the Yellow Jacket victory.

Brossia and Ordel each added their second assists of the season to their stat sheets, while Meister tallied his fifth goal, moving him into a tie for second place on the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference leaderboard. 

The win moves the men's soccer team's record to 3-6 on the season. The Yellow Jackets are set to begin HCAC play on Saturday, Sept. 29th as they travel to Franklin College for am 8:30 pm kickoff.