DC Holds Off Spartans For Second HCAC Victory

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – It was big road victory for the Defiance men's soccer team, as it defeated the Manchester Spartans, 2-1, on Wednesday, October 10. Scores by sophomores Ashten Forde and Kevin Ariola led the Jacket attack, as the team improves to 2-11-1 (2-1-1 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference) and the Spartans sink to 3-11-0 (1-3-0 HCAC).

The match kicked off with DC grabbing the early momentum, as the attack put pressure on the Spartans with three shots at the net in the first nine minutes. Both squads would battle back and forth for quality possessions, but then in the 32nd minute a corner kick gave the Jackets a golden opportunity.

Freshman Jayson Long took the corner and put it into the box where Ashten Forde got a hold of it and punched it in for a 1-0 Defiance lead and his first score of the season.

With the momentum all on the Yellow Jackets side, they kept the attack up and broke the Spartan defense again less than four minutes later when Kevin Arriola drilled the ball into the back of the net to put the Jackets up a pair. The score was his team-leading fourth of the season.

The two goal lead was DC's largest of the season and it was now up to the defense to hold off Manchester. After nine more minutes, the game was still 2-0 Defiance, as the teams headed into intermission.

Out of the break, the Yellow Jackets picked up right where they left off, as their attack posted five shots on the net in the first 22 minutes without giving the Spartans any opportunities at the net.

Then, Manchester started having a few quality possessions, as the game was nearing less than 15 minutes of play. It racked up four shots in a span of five minutes and the barrage worked, as they got one past goalie Sean Roberts in the 83rd minute to cut the deficit to 2-1.

But DC was not letting this one slip through its fingers and the team tightened up to not allow one more Manchester shot, as they came away with the hard-fought road victory.

Defiance will return to action Saturday, October 13 when they travel to Franklin for a night match with the Grizzlies. Action is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.