Defiance Clinches Win Against Thiel in Overtime

DEFIANCE, OHIO- The Defiance College Yellow Jackets men's soccer team claimed a win against Thiel (Pa.) College in double overtime, 3-2, in a non-conference game at the Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field. 

In the first half of play, junior Nick Kleptz (Troy) took the first shot for the Yellow Jackets (3-5-1), missing high in the 13th minute of play. Thiel (Pa.) College (3-6-1) scored their first goal of the evening 18 minutes in to grab the lead, 1-0.  

Defiance continued to accumulate the scoring chances as Kleptz took his second shot on goal at the 30:28 mark, followed by a shot by freshman Ahmad Khalil (Hilliard/Hilliard Bradley) but both shots wouldn't find its mark.

During the 31st minute, the Tomcats added to their lead with their second goal of the night, making the deficit, 2-0, for the Jackets. Momentum seemed to be the Thiel side until just over a minute later when Kleptz was tripped in the Tomcat goal box giving the Jackets a penalty shot opportunity. Kleptz finished what he began on the previous play and took advantage of the penalty kick, finding the back of the net and cutting the deficit in half, 2-1.

The Kleptz goal was the final point of the half for either team as Thiel maintained a slim one-goal advantage, 2-1, at the intermission. 

Twelve minutes into the second half of play, Defiance struck again with a marker by Khalil off of an attempted clear by the Tomcat goalkeeper evening the playing field at 2-2. Khalil's goal was assisted by junior Christian Meister (Ontario).

Both teams had scoring chances in the remaining minutes of regulation, but neither could put a shot past the other's netminder, keeping the contest tied at 2-2, forcing overtime. 

In the first overtime period, neither team was able to produce a goal. Freshman Jacob Diffenderfer-Gabbard (Troy) and Kleptz took the only two shots of the period. 

The Yellow Jacket offense came out strong in the second overtime period, looking for the winning goal. Freshman Mohamed Abdiraham (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) took the first shot at the 101:03 mark, landing it in the hands of the goalkeeper. Meister soared a shot into the crossbar, just missing the net. Trifiro took a try at a possible rebound off of the Meister shot, but his shot was blocked by the defender. A few minutes later, Kleptz sealed the victory for the Yellow Jackets with his second goal of the game at the 107:11 mark with an assist by Khalil to give DC the 3-2 come-from-behind win. 

Sophomore Clay Musgrave (Upper Sanduskey) played the entire game in net for the Jackets. He allowed two goals against and recorded four saves. 

The Yellow Jackets will travel to Franklin, Ind. on Saturday (Oct. 1) to take on Franklin (Ind.) College in a conference opener doubleheader matchup with the DC women's team. The men will play upon the conclusion of the women's game, at approximately 7:30 p.m.