Defiance Stretches Win Streak to Three Games

ADA, OHIO- The Defiance College men's soccer team defeated Thiel (Pa.) College, 3-1, in its first game of the Ohio Northern University Classic in Ada. 

Defiance (4-1) played tough defense throughout the night and helped keep Thiel (0-4) from obtaining many shots throughout the game. The Tomcats struck first with a goal at the 15:38 minute mark to put DC into an early deficit.  The DC offense struggled early in the opening period as their first shot on goal didn't come until the 21:52 mark when freshman Henok Jones (Georgetown, Ind./Floyd Central) put one net that was saved by the Thiel goalkeeper.  The lone goal by the Tomcats would be all the scoring after the first 45 minutes as DC trailed 1-0 at the half. 

Entering the second half, the offense picked up the pace of play. Eight minutes into the period, the Yellow Jackets found the back of the net with a goal by junior Cody Festge (Mansfield/Madison) and an assist by freshman Josiah Nichols (Weston/Bowling Green) evening the game at 1-1. The defense continued to fight off the Tomcats scoring attack and during the 62nd minute, Nichols blasted a header past the goalkeeper to give the Jackets their first lead, 2-1.  Sophomore Nick Kleptz (Troy) was credited with an assist on the Nichols' goal.  DC put the game away with fifteen minutes remaining when senior Jordan Drake (Maumee/Springfield) knocked a loose ball into the net to seal the 3-1 victory and give DC a three-game winning streak. 

Junior Damien Koester (Englewood/Brookville) played all 90 minutes in goal.  Koester allowed just the lone goal and recorded one save on the night. 

The Yellow Jackets will return to action tomorrow (Sunday, Sept. 13) when they take on SUNY-Brockport in the final game of the Ohio Northern University Classic.  Play is set to begin at 2 p.m.