Men's Soccer ties Oberlin following wild finish

OBERLIN, Ohio - The Defiance College men's soccer team looked like they were going to win their third straight game after a goal in the final minute by Noah Svanberg, but Oberlin answered three seconds later to stun the Yellow Jackets and take away the victory as the final three minutes of the contest saw a flurry of action.

Defiance is now 2-3-1 and Oberlin moves to 1-2-2. 

It was a slow start for both teams as the first six minutes featured the two teams rotating possession of the ball. Finally, just past the six minute mark, Jack Stanoikovich fired off the first shot of the game and it was saved by Oberlin goalkeeper Colvin Iorio. Two minutes later, Orry Killam saved his first shot of the night.

In the 13th minute, Oberlin was called for a foul a few feet outside the box. Riley Hensley stepped up and put the free kick into the back of the net to give the Yellow Jackets the lead. Hensley had just enough of it to sneak it past the goalkeeper. The Yellow Jackets had two more goals saved in the following few minutes and had two corner kick opportunities but couldn't convert.

Zak Klopfenstein had a shot saved in the 15th minute and from that point on, Oberlin kept possession for the remaining 30 minutes of the half and kept putting pressure on the Defiance defense. In total in the first half, Oberlin had a 9-4 advantage in shots and put six shots on goal while also doubling DC in corner kicks, 4-2. 

Oberlin started the second half the same way they ended it by putting pressure on the Yellow Jackets and answered with a game-tying goal in the 54th minute when John Wirtz scored. The second half saw Oberlin on the attack as the Yeomen had a 20-6 shot advantage in the second half. 

After the game-tying goal, it appeared the game was headed for a 1-1 tie but that was not the case as the final three minutes were crazy. Defiance was awarded a free kick just outside the box in the 88th minute but probably a good five feet farther out than the one earlier in the game. Riley Hensley took it and sailed it over the goal that awarded Oberlin with a goal kick. 

Oberlin brought the ball down the field and this time the Yellow Jackets awarded their opponent with a free kick opportunity. Approximately two feet outside the box on the left side, Orry Killam saved a header from Zach Moskowitz. 

Following the save, Noah Svanberg broke free down the left side of the field and Killam kicked the ball right to Svanberg in stride. Oberlin goalkeeper Louis Berger, who replaced Iorio after halftime, came off his line and Svanberg let it go from way out and just had enough to get it over Berger's head and into the back of the net to give the Yellow Jackets a 2-1 lead with 57 seconds remaining. 

At the time, that appeared to be the game-winning goal. Oberlin kicked off from midfield and immediately found teammates inside the box. Toby Wells-Zimmerman sent a shot on goal and Orry Killam saved it but could not corral the ball and Louis Gandelheid was right there for the rebound and putaway to tie the game just seconds later. 

Killam made 15 saves in the game and Hensley had five shots with two being on goal. 

Oberlin outshot Defiance 29-10 in the game and had a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks. 

The Yellow Jackets host Hiram Tuesday afternoon at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field at 4 p.m.