Late goal breaks tie game, sinks Yellow Jackets

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Looking to bounce back from a tough 8-1 loss the Defiance Yellow Jackets fell in 2-1 nailbiter to the Concordia Cardinals at Winsper Knobel Field on Wednesday afternoon.

The Yellow Jackets (0-13-0, 0-7-0 WHAC) played the Cardinals (3-8-2, 1-4-2 WHAC) close the entire game as no team could really grab ahold of the very physical matchup. The Cardinals managed to break through off a header from outside the box due to a miscommunication by the Yellow Jackets defense in the 16th minute. For the rest of the first half, both teams played aggressively and launched many attacks but were unable to get off many effective shots off. 

However in the 60th minute, Defiance had a breakthrough to tie the contest at 1-1. Oscar Olivier tracked down a long ball and chipped a pass in front of the frame for Will Gehlhausen, who headed in the Jackets' first home goal since Aug. 30. With this both teams were playing even as time winded down. 

The Turning Point 
After the Yellow Jackets equalized the score, Zach Canterbury made several fantastic saves in the 66th and 70th minute and made it feel like the game was heading for a draw. However, the Cardinals got the break they needed as Clamens Gehlich took a shot that rebounded off rebounded out to give Bryce Schaner an open net for the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute. 

The Yellow Jackets tried to launch an all-out attack but could not find the back of the net to equalize. They ran out of time and suffered a tough loss that could have very well gone the other way. 

A Closer Look 

• The two teams combined for 19 fouls as they went at each other all game.
• Zac Canterbury had 9 saves for the third time this season as he did everything he could to give the Jackets a chance. 
• Oscar Olivier got his first assist of the season on the cross to Gehlhausen which was his first goal of the season as well. 
• While held to just five shots, three of DC's attempts were on frame.

Up Next 
The Jackets play host to UM-Dearborn on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Winsper Knobel Memorial Field.

Written by Logan Kunkel

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