Defiance Clinches Double Overtime Win Against Bluffton

BLUFFTON, OHIO- The Defiance College men's soccer team clinched a 2-1 double overtime win against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio for its first win in conference play. 

Defiance (5-9-1, 1-4-1 HCAC) was held scoreless in the first half of the game, but had three shots in the first 45 minutes with two being on goal.  Junior Brian Kurtz (Sandusky/Perkins) missed high with a shot from inside the box at the 16:14 minute mark.  Senior Jordan Drake (Maumee/Springfield) then took an attempt, but the ball landed in the hands of the Bluffton goalkeeper at the 26:18 mark.  The Beavers (0-12-2, 0-4-2 HCAC) got on the board with a goal during the 30th minute which turned out to be their only goal of the night. Freshman Henok Jones (Georgetown, Ind./Floyd Central) tried to tie the score up during the 40th minute with a shot of his own, but the shot was saved by the goalkeeper.  As intermission began, Bluffton was in the lead with a score of 1-0. 

In the second half, the Yellow Jacket defense held Bluffton scoreless the remainder of the evening through their hard play and perserverence.  Jones took three shots in the first nine minutes of the second half and all were kept out of the net by the Bluffton netminder.  At the 62:40 minute mark, DC tied the game with a penalty kick by Drake to even the contest at 1-1.  Drake's goal was his second of the season.  With a little over one minute left in the game, sophomore Mark Williams (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) tried to steal the win, missing short from the back of the net as the goalkeeper snatched it from scoring. The shot by Williams was the final scoring attempt by either team the remainder of the period as both teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after regulation. 

The first overtime remained scoreless for both teams. Two minutes into play junior Trevor Hester (Liberty Center/Monclova Christian Academy) tried to end the match, but had a shot saved.  In the final seconds of the first overtime Kleptz took a shot, but it too was saved by Bluffton, resulting in a second overtime period. 

The second overtime ended quickly when Kleptz took a close shot from the left wing and scored, with an assist by Drake, in the second minute of play. The goal was Kleptz's sixth of the season and gave the Jackets the 2-1 victory. 

The Yellow Jackets split time in the net between goalkeepers freshman Clay Musgrave (Upper Sandusky) and junior Damien Koester (Englewood/Brookville).  Musgrave started and played the first 29:38 minutes and had three saves. Koester came in to play the final 73:13 minutes and tallied four saves, allowing just one goal against.  

Defiance will host Mount St. Joseph University on Saturday Oct. 24 at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. and will follow the DC women's team as part of a soccer doubleheader.  The women will begin the day against the Lions at 1 p.m.