DC Holds on to 1-1 Tie at Earlham with Turner’s Play in Net

RICHMOND, Ind. – The Defiance women's soccer team hung on for a 1-1 tie against the Earlham Quakers on Tuesday, October 2 thanks to a strong performance from goalie Claire Turner in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The Jackets record holds steady at 6-3-3 (1-0-1 HCAC) with the Quakers going to 5-4-1 (1-0-1 HCAC).

The Quakers got off to a hot start, as they dominated the beginning of the match. Over the first 16 minutes, Earlham posted two corners and five shots at the net before DC had even registered one of either. The Jackets slowly got the Quaker attack under control and were able to put up some nice possessions that led to Defiance notching four of the next five shots on goal.

Finally in the 36th minute, junior Karly Smith received the ball on a nice pass from sophomore Lindsay Bubnick and punched it into the net for a 1-0 DC lead. The score gave Smith her third straight game with a goal and five of her last six, as she now is alone at the top with the team lead of five. The assist was Bubnick's second on the year.

Both teams kept the tempo up after the score, but Defiance held the slim lead as the teams went into halftime.

After the intermission, Earlham got off to a quick start just as it had in the first period. This time, their attack bested the DC defense, as the Quakers Ryder Comstock beat goalie Claire Turner to tie the game at one apiece. The score ended a 266 minute scoreless streak for the Jacket goalkeeper.

With the game now up for grabs, the Quakers used the momentum to their advantage and attacked the Defiance defense with nine shots over the remaining minutes. The Jackets could only muster up two shots of their own, but held in there by keeping Earlham out of the net and sending the match into overtime.

In the overtimes, Earlham's offense continued to dominate by outshooting Defiance 9-to-2 in two extra periods, but DC didn't crack and held on to tie the tough conference road match with the Quakers 1-1.

On the afternoon, Earlham outshot Defiance 31-to-11 and 10-to-2 in corner kicks. But the play of Turner, who recorded 10 saves, kept DC from dropping its first conference game.

The Lady Yellow Jackets will be back in action Saturday, October 6, as they return home to play Rose-Hulman. The match is set to start at 1 p.m.