Men's Soccer Begins HCAC Play with Overtime Thriller

FRANKLIN, IND. - The Defiance College men's soccer team began Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play in thrilling fashion on Saturday evening. The Yellow Jackets traveled to Franklin College and left with a 2-1 win in double overtime. 

The sides found themselves equally matched for much of the contest, heading into halftime tied 0-0. Franklin held the edge offensively in the first forty-five minutes, leading the shots category 8 to 3. 

In the 72nd minute, the Yellow Jackets found themselves with a lead in their HCAC opener. Jarren Casto (Celina / Celina) slipped a ball into the path of Hunter Kauffman (St. Paris / Graham). Kauffman then ran onto the pass and flicked the shot over the outstretched Grizzlie keeper. 

It didn't take long for the home side to equalize, when the Grizzlie attacker hit a shot high and above Clay Musgrave's (Upper Sandusky / Upper Sandusky) outstretched arms. With just 12 minutes left in regulation the sides were deadlocked at 1-1. Despite six shots in the second period, the Purple and Gold were unable to find the back of the net again before the end of regulation. The sides headed to extra time, each with the hope of ending the match in dramatic fashion. 

The Yellow Jackets got that chance in the second period of ovetime when Adam Ordel hit a strike from outside the 18-yard box that found the back of the net to give the visitors a thrilling victory in their first HCAC contest of the season. Ordel's goal increased his season tally to three, while Kauffman added his second of the campaign. 

The double OT victory sends the Defiance record to 4-6 on the year, and 1-0 in HCAC play. The side will continue conference action on Wednesday, October 3rd as they host Bluffton at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field for a 3:30 pm kickoff.