HCAC Play Opens, DC Falls 1-0

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College Yellow Jackets opened up Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play against Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Institute of Technology and fell, 1-0, at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field.

Rose-Hulman (7-2, 1-0 HCAC) scored late in the first half against Defiance (2-9, 0-1 HCAC) which was enough to give the away team the victory.

Neither team could get going early as there were no shots on goal for nearly the first twenty minutes of the match.  The Fightin' Engineers broke through late in the 17th minute.  A shot fired on goal was stopped by June Delgreco (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Crestwood) to keep the score even at zero.

Delgreco stopped another shot just three minutes later to continue to keep the shutout alive.  It wasn't until the 32nd minute when Rose took the 1-0 lead on a chip shot that found net.  DC nearly tied it up six minutes later when Kayleigh Marshall (Tipp City, Ohio/Bethel) gave a great pass to Erica Islas (Lockhart, Texas/Lockhart) who put a shot on goal.  A tough save from the Rose-Hulman goalie ended the threat and secured the 1-0 halftime lead.

The Yellow Jacket defense stepped up the second half in a big way, only allowing one shot on goal which Delgreco took care of.  The DC offense tried to tie things up several times, taking three shots the second half.  Lindsay Bubnick's (Vandalia/Butler) shot was heading toward goal at the 76:57 mark but was turned away by the Rose-Hulman goalkeeper.  The Engineers were able to hold on and escape with the 1-0 conference win over DC.

Seniors Chelsie Moyer (Tipp City/Tippecanoe) and Melina Alexander (Clio, Mich./Clio Area) led the defense to a nice showing throughout the game.  Rose-Hulman was averaging seven shots on goal and 2.33 goals in its six wins prior to the matchup with the Yellow Jackets.  The two seniors helped the DC defense hold the opposition to just four shots on goal and the lone score.

The Yellow Jackets will head to North Manchester, Ind. for another HCAC matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 8 against Manchester University.  Start time is set for 4 pm.