Women's Soccer Falls in Close Contest at Earlham

RICHMOND, IND. - The Defiance College women's soccer team hit the road to take on Earlham College on Wednesday afternoon. The close contest saw the hosts prevail by just a one goal margin, 2-1. 

The Quakers broke through early in the contest when an indirect free kick found a Quaker attacker in the 5th minute of action.

Head Coach Jenny Vincent's Yellow Jackets were keen to fight their way back into the contest, taking five shots and forcing the Quaker goalkeeper into two saves in the remaining first half. The Purple and Gold were just inches from seizing the tying goal just seconds from the halftime whistle. Blake Newman (Jackson, Mich. / Lumen Christi) took a shot that found its way on the post of the Quaker goal to wrap up the first half of action. 

In the 71st minute the Purple and Gold found the sought after equalizer. Newman played a ball into the path of fellow junior Whitney Webb (Troy / Troy), who then lofted a ball over the Earlham goakeeper and into the back of the net. Webb's goal takes her season tally to a team high four goals. 

With just under 20 minutes remaining in the contest both sides searched for a game-winner. After a corner from Lauren Oglesbee (Kenton / Benjamin Logan), the Quakers were able to spring an attack and score a second goal in the 79th minute.

The Yellow Jackets earned two more corners, of their season high eight, in the remaining minutes. Newman had one more shot on the day in the 83rd, ultimately being saved by the Quaker net-minder. 

Defensively, freshman Cassidy Weiss (Centerville, Ind. / Centerville) played all 90 minutes for the Yellow Jackets, making four saves on the day. 

On the attack, Newman led the way in the shots category with three, while Webb and Lauren Perry (Northwood / Lake) closely followed with two each. 

The loss brings Defiance's record to 2-14 on the season and 2-6 in the HCAC.

The Yellow Jackets are next in action Saturday, Oct. 27 as they travel to Hanover for the final game of the 2018 season. The match is slated to kickoff at 1:00 pm.