Men's Soccer Comes Up Short Against Franklin (Ind.)

DEFIANCE, OHIO- The Defiane men's soccer team fell to Franklin (Ind.) College, 2-0, in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field.

The Yellow Jackets defense (4-8, 0-3 HCAC) held the Grizzlies (5-6-1, 2-1 HCAC) to only one goal in the first half. The goal was scored at the 22 minute mark. The Defiance offense put up two hard shots in an attempt to add a tally on their side of the score board when freshman Henok Jones (Georgetown, Ind./Floyd Central) took a hard shot on goal six minutes into play, but it was saved by the Grizzly goalkeeper.  Later, freshman Adam Ordel (Lima/Elida) missed wide on a a headshot that could have potentially tied the game, but  Defiance trailed by only a goal, 1-0, heading into halftime. 

In the second half, DC had two early scoring opportunities, both off the foot of junior Brian Kurtz (Sandusky/Perkins), but both would miss its mark keeping the deficit at just a goal.  Freshman Josiah Nichols (Weston/Bowling Green) then recorded an attempt of his own that sailed wide.  Seconds later, Franklin scored their second and last goal of the night during the 55th minute to extend the lead to 2-0. DC had a couple of good scoring chances down the stretch that included a shot on goal by sophomore Mark Williams (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) and a penalty shot by Jones, but the Yellow Jackets could not net the equalizers to force overtime as Franklin held on for the 2-0 win. 

In net for the Yellow Jackets was freshman Clay Musgrave (Upper Sandusky) who started and played the entire game. Musgrave earned six saves and allowed two goals against. 

The Yellow Jackets will travel to Anderson, Ind. for a HCAC matchup against Anderson (Ind.) University on Wednesday (Oct. 14).  The game is part of a soccer doubleheader with the DC women's team.  The men will kickoff at 3:30 p.m., followed by the women at 7 p.m.