Lady Jackets close down season with tough 6-0 loss

HANOVER, Ind. – The Defiance College Lady Jackets closed out the 2013 season on Saturday in Hanover with a 6-0 defeat.

Defiance (6-11-2, 3-5-1 HCAC) drew the tough card of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference today, having to play conference leader Hanover (15-1-2, 8-0-1 HCAC) to close out the season.

Despite the big loss, DC was able to put the pressure on early with a header shot from senior Karly Smith (Parma, Ohio / Parma) that was saved my Hanover's goalie.  That was one of two shots that Smith was able to put on goal for DC in the first half.

Hanover was able to counter quickly though and start to control the game.  They scored three goals in the first half.  Elaine Simpson was able to get the first goal of the game that would eventually become the game winner at the 4:23 mark.

Hanover's Erin Hancock and Paige Byers were able to follow that goal up with a goal of their own at the 9:17 mark and the 23:33 mark respectively.

DC was able to hold Hanover in check the rest of the half but faced the 3-0 deficit going into intermission.

Hanover started things again quickly in the second.  Simpson was able to find her second goal of the day in the 51st minute.  They were able to score another two goals in the remaining 40 minutes to complete the 6-0 win.

Smith ends her career with 44 points and 10 assists, both of which are DC career records.  She also leaves tied atop the goal scoring career record with 17.

Kim Bingley (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf) leaves Defiance as the all-time leader in matches played with 71.  She is also second in career minutes played with 6,259.

After the game, Head Coach Alex Van der Sluijs said, "I'm really proud of the work our girls put in this year.  Unfortunately it was a year we just couldn't get the ball to bounce our way, but I'm really pleased with all our players' effort."