Men's Soccer Beats MSJ For Second Straight Win

DEFIANCE, OHIO- The Defiance College men's soccer team claimed their second straight victory with a 2-1 win against Mount St. Joseph University in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field. 

The Yellow Jackets (6-9-1, 2-4-1) scored quickly in the first half when a shot by sophomore Christian Meister (Ontario) found its mark 6:19 into the game for the early 1-0 lead.  The goal by Meister was assisted by senior teammate Jordan Drake (Maumee/Springfield).  Drake took a shot of his own later in the period at the 9:12 mark, but missed high.  During the 22nd minute, Mount St. Joseph (6-9-1, 0-6-1 HCAC) added what turned out to be their only tally on the evening, tying the score up at 1-1 off a headshot.  Neither team scored any more goals the rest of the way as the two squads were deadlocked in a 1-1 tie at intermission.

In the second half, the Yellow Jackets grabbed the lead when sophomore Nick Kleptz (Troy) found an empty net with an unassisted goal at the 59:00 mark putting the Jackets up, 2-1.  With five minutes remaining in the second half, freshman Henok Jones (Georgetown, Ind./Floyd Central) looked to seal the victory on a breakaway opportunity, but his shot attempt ended up going wide of the goal.  MSJ had one final look to even the game on a corner kick, but time would run out before either team established possession off of the kick as the Jackets held on for the 2-1 victory. 

In net for the Jackets was junior Damian Koester (Englewood/Brookville) who started and played the entire game.  Koester allowed one goal against and had two saves. 

Defiance will play their final home game of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field in a HCAC contest against Earlham (Ind.) College.  It will also be senior day with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m.