Lady Jackets Open Conference Play With a Win Over Anderson

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The women's soccer team overcame an early deficit to defeat Anderson University, 2-1, in their first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference match of the season. Freshman forward, Karly Smith, got the game-winner for Defiance with her first-career collegiate goal.

Anderson's leading scorer, Sarah Guffy, put the Jackets in an early hole with a strike that ricocheted off the crossbar, into the grass, and just barely across the goal line before DC's Kelly Coble could swipe it out of the air.

The Ravens were able to keep Defiance off the scoreboard until late in the second half, when Cherilyn Borkholder recorded her first goal of the season in the 41st minute to give the Jackets a boost going into halftime.  

After being outshot, 8-6, in the first half, Defiance turned it around to post a 10-5 advantage in the shooting column in the second period. Karly Smith put Defiance up, 2-1, in the 52nd minute off a feed from Janelle Doenges, and the Jackets would never look back, holding Anderson scoreless for the final 38 minutes of the contest.

The win moves the Jackets to 2-3-2 on the season, but more importantly gives them a 1-0 record in the HCAC. Defiance will travel to Tiffin, Ohio on Tuesday for a matchup with Heidelberg University (6-3), beginning at 7:00 p.m.