Yellow Jackets Sports Weekly Recap (Oct. 17- Oct. 23)

By: Brandon Unverferth

Photography: Hanna Young

Football: Sat. Oct. 22

Defiance 32 (1-6) Anderson University 22 (0-7)

The Defiance College football team hosted the Anderson Ravens Saturday afternoon at Justin F. Coressel Stadium for an HCAC conference showdown. The first half of the game was a defensive battle, as neither team was able to find the scoreboard until the final minute of the second quarter. Defiance senior quarterback Jordan Ambrose found an opening in the middle of the field and rushed 32 yards to the end zone, to give Defiance a 7-0 lead into the halftime break. Both offenses came to life in the second half, as Defiance and Anderson combined for 47 second-half points. Defiance senior quarterback Jordan Ambrose connected with sophomore wide receiver Tawann Rome for a pair of passing touchdowns in the third quarter, from 18 and 28 yards respectively, which provided the Yellow Jackets with a 20-0 advantage (9:40 left in the third quarter). Nearly two minutes after the second Tawann Rome touchdown, Anderson freshman kicker Mateo Jesch knocked one through the uprights from 20 yards out, to cut the Ravens’ deficit to 20-3. Two minutes later (5:18 left in the third quarter) Anderson freshman quarterback Roosevelt Norfleet III found freshman tight end Ryan McGough for a 76-yard touchdown pass, to cut the Defiance lead to 20-10. With twenty seconds left in the third quarter, Defiance senior quarterback Seth Pearson connected with junior wide receiver Jalen Warren for a 9-yard touchdown, to extend the Yellow Jackets’ advantage to 26-10. Eighteen seconds later (two seconds left in the third), Anderson freshman quarterback Roosevelt Norfleet III found junior wide receiver Julian Holguin for a 69-yard touchdown strike, to cut the Ravens’ deficit back to ten (26-16). With 11:29 left in the fourth, Anderson freshman quarterback Roosevelt Norfleet III connected this time with freshman wide receiver R.J. Anthony Jr for a 14-yard passing touchdown, to cut the Defiance lead to four (26-22). Defiance was able to find the end zone one last time with 4:52 left in the fourth, as junior running back Tyshaun Freeman rushed from one yard out, to push the Defiance lead back to ten. The Defiance defense held strong the rest of the way, despite giving up two big chunk plays that resulted in two Anderson touchdowns earlier in the game. Senior quarterback Jordan Ambrose threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one touchdown, to give him three total. Senior quarterback Seth Pearson attempted only one pass for Defiance and it resulted in a nine-yard touchdown. Junior running back Tyshaun Freeman led the Yellow Jackets in rushing with 144 yards and one touchdown. Senior Thomas Coltrain led Defiance in total tackles with nine, while also adding half-a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss to his stat sheet. Senior Justin Caballero recorded eight tackles and half a sack, while junior Richard Pope IV recorded one solo sack.

When senior TE Cole Recker was asked by The Defender about the teams’ mindset following a victory over Anderson, he expressed, “I think it was great that we were able to finally get a win. We have been working hard all year and have been in plenty of games, but we have just not been able to secure a victory, until today. We definitely need to keep the momentum going not only into next week, but for the rest of the season. I think now that this team has a taste of winning, they will only want more. Senior quarterback Jordan Ambrose and the rest of the offense played great, and our defense really stepped up for the stop at the end of the game. I am so proud of the boys and what they did this week.”

Men’s Soccer: Wed. Oct. 19 and Sat. Oct. 22

10/19: Bluffton University 1 (6-6-3), Defiance 0 (1-11-5)

The Defiance College men’s soccer team welcomed the Bluffton Beavers to Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field Wednesday afternoon for an HCAC conference matchup. The scoreboard remained at zero through the 85-minute mark of this contest, before Bluffton senior Dalton Taynor put one through the net (86-minute mark) from the right hash, to give the Beavers a 1-0 advantage. Taynor’s goal was the seniors’ (team-best) ninth score of the season. Dalton’s goal for Bluffton would be the only point scored in the match by either team. Defiance senior goalkeeper Orry Killam stopped eight Bluffton shots, as he held the Beavers scoreless until the final four minutes of the match. Bluffton senior Dalton Taynor led the Beavers with six shots, including four on goal. The Beavers outpaced the Yellow Jackets in total shots, 14-4, as they put nine of those attempts on goal. Senior Chase Stiner led the Yellow Jackets with two shot attempts, while sophomore Will Gehlhausen and junior Riley Hensley each had one.

When Student Manager Noah Svanberg was asked by The Defender about the teams mindset following a tough rivalry game loss versus Bluffton, he expressed, “The outcome was tough to swallow. Our guys played “strong” the entire game, but unfortunately we just lost our focus on one possession, and it changed the outcome of the game. I hope that we can round out what’s left of our season, on a positive note.”

10/22: Defiance 2 (2-11-5), Franklin College 1 (3-12)

The Yellow Jackets men’s soccer team hosted the Franklin Grizzlies (HCAC conference opponent) Saturday afternoon at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field as a part of senior day festivities. Defiance seniors Austin Boles, Orry Killam, Erdwin Quintana, Armando Campos-Ortiz, Joshua Maurer, Kaden Pirrwitz, and Dom Patton were recognized during the festivities. At the 22-minute mark of the first half, junior Htoo Ray Moo put the Grizzlies on the scoreboard first with a goal from the right hash. Htoo’s first-half score would be the only goal for Franklin in this matchup. Defiance was unable to put points on the scoreboard through 54 minutes of this contest until senior Chase Stiner (55-minute mark) knocked one through the net, to tie the match at 1. Nineteen minutes later (74-minute mark), senior Chase Stiner found himself once again in a scoring position. Following a Grizzlies penalty, Stiner capitalized from the Franklin mistake by scoring via a penalty kick, to give Defiance a 2-1 advantage. Stiner’s second goal of the contest for the Yellow Jackets would end up being the game-winner. Franklin and Defiance were even on shot attempts with 18 a piece, while Franklin led the way in the corner kicks category 6-5. Senior
Armando Campos-Ortiz led the way in shot attempts for Defiance with six, while senior goalkeeper Austin Boles recorded seven saves.

Women’s Soccer: Wed. Oct. 19 and Sat. Oct. 22

10/19: Bluffton University 3 (4-9-1), Defiance 0 (3-12)

The Defiance College women’s soccer team traveled to Bluffton, Ohio, Wednesday evening to take on the Bluffton Beavers in HCAC action. One minute and 36 seconds into the first half, senior Emma White for knocked one through the net for the Beavers, to give them a 1-0 early lead. Nine minutes later (10-minute mark), freshman Kelsie Gladieux extended the Bluffton lead to 2-0, as she scored from the left hash. At the 77-minute mark, sophomore Clara Matthews added her name to the Beaver’s scoring sheet, which secured the Beaver’s shutout victory 3-0. The Beavers were able to outshoot the Yellow Jackets, 34-4. Bluffton recorded 19 (of their 34) shot attempts in the first half alone. Defiance junior goalkeeper Sarah O’Shea led the way in match saves with 15, as she faced 18 shots on goal. Junior Melissa Bixler led the Yellow Jackets with 2 shot attempts, while senior Brianna Snider and junior Clover Worrell each recorded one.

When senior Brianna Snider was asked by The Defender about her thoughts following the matchup at rival Bluffton, she expressed, “It was a tough loss to go through. Even though the result was not what we expected, we played hard and had good moments of possession. I am proud of the fact that we continue to work together as a team, even when the our backs are against the wall.”

10/22: Franklin College 3 (3-11-1), Defiance 0 (3-13)

The Yellow Jackets women’s soccer team welcomed the Franklin Grizzlies (HCAC conference opponent) to Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field Saturday afternoon as a part of senior day festivities. Defiance seniors Brianna Snider and Abbe Rank were recognized during the festivities. The Yellow Jackets were able to keep the Grizzlies off the scoreboard for the entire first half, but in the second half, Franklin’s firepower became too much for Defiance. At the 54-minute mark, senior Elaina Page knocked one through the net, to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead. Twenty-three minutes later (77-minute mark), another senior, Lilly Haines added her name to the stat sheet with a goal from the right hash, which stretched the Franklin lead to two. The final goal of the contest came at the 81-minute mark, as sophomore Maddison Claybrooke “punched” one through the net for the Grizzlies. Junior goalkeeper Sarah O’Shea stopped nine Franklin shots for the Yellow Jackets. Freshman Makenzie Trosen finished the contest as goalie for Defiance, as she played the final 11 minutes. Franklin outshot Defiance 29-1. Defiance’s lone shot attempt was from junior Hallie Webb, in the second half. The Grizzlies also led the way in corner kicks 9-2.

Volleyball: Wed. Oct. 19 and Fri. Oct. 21

10/19: Earlham College 3 (12-11), Defiance 0 (3-17)

The Defiance College volleyball team traveled to Richmond, Indiana, Wednesday evening to take on the Earlham Quakers in HCAC action. The Quakers were able to pull off the “clean sweep” in this matchup, as they dominated the opening three sets 25-17, 25-9, and 25-15. Sophomore Jamia Murray recorded a team-high seven kills for the Yellow Jackets, while freshman Jaelyn Tomoletz had five. Sophomore Kaylynn Wellman (4), freshman Abi Teders (2), and juniors Kayla Boettger, Olivia Rayk, and Madison Schoenauer (1 each), also contributed to the Defiance 21 total kills. Freshman Courtney Maxwell recorded a Yellow Jackets team-high eight assists, while sophomore Kendra Kline had seven. Junior Hope Yost led Defiance with nine digs, while another junior, Kayla Boettger finished with eight.

When freshman Abi Teders was asked by The Defender about her thoughts following the Earlham matchup, she expressed, “We fought really hard on Wednesday. It was definitely a tough loss, but we are a strong team. We have all been working really hard in the gym and in the weight room (both individually and as a team). We are focusing on these next few matchups, as we hope to finish the season off strong!”

10/21: Mount St. Joseph University 3 (19-4), Defiance 0 (3-18)

The Yellow Jackets volleyball team traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, Friday evening to take on the Mount St. Joseph Lions in HCAC conference play. The Lions were able to pull off the “clean sweep” in this matchup, as they dominated the opening three sets 25-12, 25-9, and 25-20. Senior Mackenzie Umbaugh and sophomore Jamia Murray led the Yellow Jackets with 4 kills a piece, while juniors Madison Schoenauer and Olivia Rayk each recorded two. Sophomore Kaylynn Wellman and a pair of freshman’s Jaelyn Tomoletz and Abi Teders, also recorded two kills in the matchup. Sophomore Kendra Kline and Freshman Courtney Maxwell, each led Defiance with 6 assists, while freshman Kirsten Vanisacker had four.

Home

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Women’s Soccer (3-13) vs Mount St. Joseph University (9-7-2)

Location: Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field

(3:30 pm)

Volleyball (3-18) vs Bluffton University (15-9)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(6:30 pm)

Saturday, Oct. 29

Volleyball (3-18) vs Franklin College (8-14)

(Senior Day)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(1:00 pm)

Away

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Men’s Soccer (2-11-5) at Mount St. Joseph University (3-14-1)

(7:00 pm)

Saturday, Oct. 29

Women’s Cross Country at Bluffton University (HCAC Championship)

(TBA)

Men’s Cross Country at Bluffton University (HCAC Championship)

(TBA)

Football (1-6) at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (4-3)

(1:30 pm)