Last Second Goal Gives DC Tie vs. Greenville

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The DC Lady Jackets soccer team never gave up and freshman Erica Islas drilled a goal with 15 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the match at one apiece with the Greenville Panthers. The game went through both overtimes with no scores to end in a 1-to-1 tie. The draw brings both Defiance and Greenville to a 0-0-1 record to open the season.

The match began with both teams sharing close to equal possession and having a few good looks at goal. At half, the 0-to-0 game was a dead heat as the shots were four-to-three in favor of the Panthers, but the Yellow Jackets had the advantage in corner kicks at two-to-zero.

The second half started much as the first had gone with a lot of back-and-forth play as each squad had their chances to knock one in. Then in the 75th minute, a quick breakaway from Greenville gave the team their first goal of the season when junior Kelsey Panzau centered the ball to fellow junior Jennifer Williams who slotted it in the lower left corner for a 1-to-0 lead.

But this Defiance women's soccer team gave it's all and played with "no regrets" as is the team's season slogan. After a barrage of shots on the Panther goalie over the last minutes of the match, a scuffle for the ball in the box gave possession to freshman Erica Islas who turned around and blasted a goal into the lower left corner to tie the game with a mere 15 ticks remaining on the scoreboard. The game resumed with the clock hitting zero after a few moments and sending the 1-to-1 game into overtime.

The teams played out both overtime periods with the Panthers outshooting the Yellow Jackets five-to-two, but good defense and a few big saves by freshman goalkeeper Claire Turner prevented any more goals for Greenville as the match went final in a 1-to-1 draw.

Defiance is next in action on Sunday, September 2 as it hosts the College of Brockport in its second game of the DC Purple and Gold Classic. The match is slated for 2:00 p.m. at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field.