Women’s Soccer Earns First Win on Golden Goal in Overtime

MARIETTA, Ohio – Sophomore Melina Alexander was the hero today for Defiance as she scored her first career goal for the game-winning score in the Yellow Jackets come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Bethany College Bison of West Virginia.

The Jackets fell behind early as Bethany got on the scoreboard first with a goal in the ninth minute. But DC answered back two minutes later with a score of its own when fellow sophomore Lindsey Bubnick drilled her first goal of the season from 30 yards out to tie the game up at 1.

After 10 minutes of play, the Bison retook the lead 2-1 when they notched their second goal on a kick from 35 yards out and that score would hold heading into intermission.

In the second half, Bethany extended its advantage to 3-1 when it chipped in a goal inside the six-yard box in the 57th minute.

It was a comfortable lead for the Bison as their defense played well since the Defiance goal earlier on in the game, but in the 79th minute, an own goal by Bethany cut the deficit to 3-2 for the Jackets and gave the team a chance to tie it up and DC took full advantage.

Just as she had done in the first match against Greenville, freshman Erica Islas punched in a clutch game-tying goal on a pass from senior Katie Heitkamp in the last minutes of the game to send it to overtime at 3-3.

Defiance had grabbed the momentum of the game and took it right into extra minutes where they outshot the Bison 3-to-1 including the game-winner by Melina Alexander in the 98th minute.

The victory evens out DC's record to 1-1-1 on the season, while the Bison fall to 1-2-0. On the day, the Jackets outshot the Bison 17-to-9 which was one more then they had in the first two matches combined.

Defiance continues action Sunday, September 9th in the second match of the Marietta Classic when they take on Westminister College (PA) at 1 p.m.