DC tops MSJ to win conference opener, 1-0

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College men's soccer team took a crucial first step in conference play Saturday afternoon, defeating Mt. St. Joseph, 1-0, at Winsper-Knobel Field.  With the win, the Yellow Jackets move to 6-5-0 overall and a 1-0-0 in HCAC play.

DC played great defense all day, only allowing MSJ to take eight shots, with only two of those going on goal.  The Lions would have had several more shots at it if not for the stellar play of Sean Roberts (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester).  Roberts took several crosses and corners out of the air preventing looks from the MSJ offense.

The score stood at 0-0 for the first 50 minutes, before Kevin Arriola (New Lebanon, Ohio/Dixie) made a breakaway toward the goal early in the second half.  Arriola converted on the attempt to make it 1-0.  The score marks the seventh of the season for Arriola and the most by any DC player in a season since 2006.

DC's defense stood strong the remaining forty minutes, while the offense continued to put pressure on MSJ.  The final shot count was Yellow Jackets 12-8.

With the sixth win on the season, it marks the most in Coach Vander Sluijs' career at DC. 

Defiance plays again on Wednesday at 3:30 pm. They play host to Earlham College.