Second Half Surge Leads DC to 3-0 Win Over Rival Bluffton

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance men's soccer team ended a three-game skid with a, 3-0, shutout of rival Bluffton Beavers on Wednesday, October 24. The three second half goals accounted for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory, as the Jackets improve to 3-14-1 (3-4-1 HCAC), while the Beavers drop to 2-13 (0-7 HCAC).

In the first period, both squads had difficulties getting their offensive sets together. Each team was able to pull off a few runs that led to decent attempts at the net, but overall the defensive units were being very aggressive in the physical match and making it hard on the offense. After 45 minutes, both teams still sat at zero on the scoreboard.

Throughout the season, DC's offense has really plagued them by not being able to produce enough scores and strong defensive games would go to waste when the opponent could muster up just one goal. That was not the case on this gorgeous October afternoon.

The Yellow Jackets came out of the break firing on all cylinders and gave the rival Beavers too much to handle. In the 54th minute, senior Ryan Owens got a slick pass from sophomore Chad Brooks just outside the box in front of the goal. He reared up and rocketed the ball into the back of the net for the 1-0 DC lead and his first score of the season.

But Defiance wasn't done, as it continued with a barrage of eight shots at the visitor goalie over the next 24 minutes and the eighth was goal number two for DC.  Brooks rang up his second goal on the year when fellow sophomore Jack Krienen slid him a pass in the box that he punched in for a 2-0 advantage.

Then as the clock was winding down, junior Evan Allen got free on a breakaway and took a shot at the net that ricocheted off the right post directly to fellow teammate Kevin Arriola who knocked it in for the 3-0 Jacket lead. The score was Arriola's team-leading fifth goal.

DC then ran out the last minutes of the match and celebrated the big victory over rival Bluffton. On the afternoon, the Jackets aggressive play led them to outshoot the Beavers 17-to-9 and score three goals for the first time this season.

Defiance returns to play Saturday, October 27 for Senior Day and the team's regular season finale against the Hanover Panthers. Play is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.