Engineers Can’t Solve DC Attack, Lady Jackets Win 2-0

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Sophomore Alicia Ledford scored a pair of goals for her first on the season, and the Defiance women's soccer team cruised to a 2-0 victory over the Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers on Saturday, October 6. DC improves to 7-3-3 on the year, while Rose drops to 6-5-2.

Things got off to a good pace in the game, as both sides had cracks at the net in the first minutes. But the Lady Jackets took advantage first, when junior Karly Smith made a nice touch pass to Alicia Ledford for a breakaway score over the goalie's finger tips that put the squad up 1-0. It was Ledford's first goal of the season and Smith's third assist.

Rose responded by dominating the next ten minutes with six shots at the net and a pair of corners, but freshman Claire Turner and the Defiance defense hung in there to keep the Engineers out of the net.

A few minutes later, DC pushed the ball into the Rose-Hulman box that resulted in a scramble for the ball. In the right place at the right time, Ledford got a hold of the ball and drilled it into the net for her second score on the day and second of the season. The Jackets were then up 2-0 and would take that advantage into halftime.

Play resumed in the second period with both teams continuing to battle for the ball. Rose actually outshot the Jackets in the first period 9-to-6, but couldn't convert. Much of the same continued, as Defiance kept a conservative approach with the comfortable 2-0 lead. The Fightin' Engineers continued to outshoot DC in the second period by a mark of 6-to-4, as well as in corners at 4-to-0.

But the scrappy Lady Jackets defense did not break once and finished out the match by holding Rose-Hulman scoreless and a 2-0 win. Turner had herself another fantastic game in goal as she registered 10 saves and her fifth shutout of the season.

DC will get back on the road Tuesday, October 9 for an away match against the Manchester Spartans. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m.