Spartan Defense Stifles Jackets, Defeats DC 1-0 in Double OT

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Defiance women's soccer team suffered a tough first loss in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, October 9, as the Lady Jackets fell to the Manchester Spartans by a score of 1-0 in double overtime.

In the first period, DC dominated, as it put up six shots on the home team, while not allowing a single Spartan shot at the net. However, the stout Manchester defense held up its end of the bargain and kept the match at zero's heading into halftime.

Coming out of the break, the Lady Jackets continued their offensive pressure by notching four shots at the goal in the first 12 minutes. Slowly though, Spartans attack stepped up, as they started taking advantage of opportunities and matched DC shot-for-shot with each team posting eight.

Nonetheless, neither team could punch one in over the rest of the second period, as the squads would go into extra minutes still knotted at zero.

In the first overtime, DC came out firing again, as it racked up five shots at the net in 10 minutes. But the Jackets just could not find a way to get it past the Spartans goalkeeper.

Then in the second overtime, Manchester struck with a heartbreaking walk-off goal in 106th minute to send Defiance back home with its first conference loss of the season.

On the day, DC outshot Manchester 21-to-10, with sophomore Genelle Castro and junior Kim Bingley registering five and four, respectively. The team also could not find a way to take advantage of 16 Spartans fouls to the Jackets four.

Defiance falls to 7-4-3 (2-1-1 HCAC) with the loss, while Manchester improves to 5-5-3 (1-2-1 HCAC).

The Lady Jackets will try to get things back on track Saturday, October 13 when they travel to Franklin College to battle the Grizzlies in a night match. The game is set to start at 5 p.m.