Jackets blanked at Muskingum, 3-0, to wrap up non-conference play

NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Defiance College women's soccer dropped a 3-0 match at Muskegum while enduring a 43-shot barrage by the Muskies on Saturday at North Turf Field.

Defiance struggled to hold on to possession and was limited to just two shots for the game, each taken in the first half. The first was in the 12th minute by Logan Gray who missed high while Melissa Bixler put one on frame before it was knocked down by the Muskies' keeper in the 22nd minute.

Muskingum laid shots on goal early and often and took 12 attempts before scoring their first goal of the day during the 18th minute as Isabelle Cadogan made the score 1-0. Defiance keeper Sarah O'Shea saved three more shot attempts until Muskingum's Gracie McNiel knocked the second goal through on a feed from Hannah Ritchie. Despite a 2-0 halftime score, O'Shea had 13 saves at the break.

Muskingum followed up 25 shots in the first half and won that category 18-0 in the second half. The final goal of the game came off a corner kick by Ritchie during the 78th minute and was punched in by Morgan Meisel. For the game, Muskingum tallied 14 corner kicks compared to one by DC.

O'Shea finished the contest with 22 saves, a season-high and third-highest total in her career behind performances of 23 and 27 during the 2021 season.

Each team left the field with a 2-4-2 record in the final non-conference game this season for Defiance.

The Jackets return to the field with a home date against Manchester with kickoff at 4:30 p.m.

-JACKETS-