Yellow Jackets end season on a high note, win 1-0 in double OT

HANOVER, Ind. – The Yellow Jackets closed down the season on a high note at Hanover with a tough and thrilling, 1-0, win in double overtime.

Defiance College (10-9, 5-4 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference) achieved a few different milestones with its win over Hanover (10-7-2, 6-2-1 HCAC) on Saturday.  With the victory, it is the first time DC has finished its season with a winning record since 2004.  The five conference wins also marks the most wins they have ever had in HCAC play.

Though DC was outshot 24-10 and down a man at the 24:43 mark by way of a red card, they were able to beat Hanover 1-0.

Yellow Jackets senior Sean Roberts (Canal Winchester, Ohio / Canal Winchester) ended his career in a big way.  Not only did he help lead DC to the victory, Roberts was able to save 10 balls to help get the win.  His 10 saves marks the most that Roberts has had all season.

Hanover took control of the game early, putting up six shots to DC's two in the first 24 minutes.  Things went from bad to worse at that point, when Defiance received a red card at the 24:43 mark to put them with the one man disadvantage for the remainder of the game.

Roberts, fellow senior Luke Freels (Ludlow Falls, Ohio / Milton Union), and the rest of the defense stepped up, pressuring every shooting attempt, with Roberts turning away all that went on target.

Through 105 minutes both teams played to a hard fought 0-0 tie before Drew Metz (Northwood, Ohio / Lake) was able to end the game for Defiance.  Metz got it into the box, made a move around the Hanover goalie, and tapped it in for the easy game winning goal.

The two seniors were able to end their careers on the high note with the help from Metz and the other Yellow Jackets.

Roberts leaves Defiance College with a very impressive career sheet.  He is the career leader in saves (363), most shutouts (10), and most wins (19).  He also is second in save percentage (.774) and third in goals against average (1.59).

Freels also leaves with a few records of his own.  He is the all-time career leader in games (73), starts (71), and minutes played (6,374).

"Our guys put forth an incredible effort today," a very happy Head Coach Alex Van der Sluijs said after the game. "I've never been more proud as a coach.  Down to 10 men most of the game and beat the top team in the conference was an amazing effort."