Yellow Jackets Sports Weekly Recap (Oct. 24- Oct. 30)

By: Brandon Unverferth

Photography: Hanna Young

Volleyball: Wed. Oct. 26 and Sat. Oct. 29

10/26: Bluffton University 3 (16-9), Defiance 0 (3-19)

The Defiance College volleyball team welcomed the Bluffton Beavers to the Karl H. Weaner Center Wednesday evening for an HCAC conference matchup. The Beavers were able to pull off the “clean sweep” in this matchup, as they were victorious in the opening three sets 25-22, 25-22, and 25-22. All three sets came down to the wire, but thanks to Bluffton’s consistency, they were able to take the victory in each. Junior Madison Schoenauer and freshman Jaelyn Tomoletz led the Yellow Jackets with six kills a piece, while sophomore Jamia Murray recorded five. Sophomore Kaylynn Wellman (3), junior Kayla Boettger (2), senior Mackenzie Umbaugh (1), and junior Olivia Rayk (1); also ended the match with kills. Sophomore Kendra Kline and freshman Courtney Maxwell each led Defiance with nine assists, while junior Hope Yost secured three.

10/29: Defiance 3 (4-19), Franklin College 0 (8-16)

The Yellow Jackets volleyball team hosted the Franklin Grizzlies (HCAC conference opponent) Saturday afternoon at the Karl H. Weaner Center as a part of senior day festivities. Mackenzie Umbaugh, the lone senior for the Yellow Jackets, was recognized during the festivities. The Yellow Jackets were able to pull off the “clean sweep” in this matchup, as they were victorious in the opening three sets 25-22, 25-21, and 25-22. Mackenzie Umbaugh (playing in her final collegiate match) led the Defiance “charge” with a team-high 10 kills, while sophomore Kaylynn Wellman recorded nine kills. Kaylynn finished her sophomore season as Defiance’s leading attacher with 157 kills overall. Sophomore Jamia Murray landed eight kills in this contest, to end the year with 124 kills. Jamia led Defiance with two kills per set this season. Freshman Courtney Maxwell served up 32 assists to run her season total to 249. The Yellow Jackets’ defense played a key part in this victory, as they blocked six Franklin attacks compared to the Grizzlies’ two. With the victory, Defiance snapped a 10-game losing streak and earned their first win in HCAC conference action.

When junior Hope Yost was asked by The Defender about her overall thoughts on the season, she expressed, “This season was definitely a learning experience. We learned a lot about who we are as a team and who we are as individuals. With a new head coach this year, we had to adapt to the new coaching style and expectations. Overall, we are excited to have the opportunity to continue to build upon the foundations we built this year and we are definitely excited for the future of this program!”

Men’s Soccer: Wed. Oct. 26

Mount St. Joseph University 2 (4-14-1), Defiance 1 (2-12-5)

The Defiance College men’s soccer team traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, Wednesday afternoon to take on the Mount St. Joseph Lions in the final Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) match of the season. This contest remained scoreless for 60-minutes until junior Michael Abel punched one through the net for Mount St. Joseph, to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. This lead did not last long, as 11 minutes later (71-minute mark), senior Chase Stiner scored off a penalty kick for Defiance to tie the game at one. With less than three minutes left in the match (87-minute mark), junior Michael Abel came up “clutch” as he scored his second goal of the contest to secure the Mount St. Joseph victory 2-1. Senior Chase Stiner’s score in this matchup provided him with three goals in his final two games for the Yellow Jackets (combining his two-goal Senior Day versus Franklin from last Saturday, with Wednesday’s match at Mount. St. Joseph). Stiner led the 2022 Yellow Jackets with six goals and he officially reached 10 career goals at Defiance. Defiance outshot Mount St. Joseph 23-14, with 13 on goal for the Yellow Jackets compared to 7 for the Lions.  

When Student Manager Noah Svanberg was asked by The Defender about his overall thoughts on the season, he expressed, “While this season did not finish according to plan, I noticed a strong bond beginning to “brew” among the players towards the end of the year. I hope this feeling associated with not reaching the playoffs this year will resonate with the guys heading into next season.”

Women’s Soccer: Wed. Oct. 26

Mount St. Joseph University 7 (10-7-2), Defiance 0 (3-14)

The Yellow Jackets women’s soccer team hosted the Mount St. Joseph Lions Wednesday afternoon at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field for the final HCAC conference matchup of the season. At the 9-minute mark, sophomore Kerigan Pollard knocked one through the net for Mount St. Joseph, to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later (11-minute mark), another sophomore, McKenzie Schneeman added her name to the Lions’ stat sheet, as she extended the Mount St. Joseph advantage to two. At the 12-minute mark, sophomore Kerigan Pollard scored what would be her second goal of the contest for Mount St. Joseph, as she dribbled through the Defiance defense to score from the left hash. In the 18th minute, sophomore Paige Adams added her name to the first-half Lions’ scoring “party”, as she stretched the Mount St. Joseph lead to 4-0. Nine minutes later (27-minute mark), graduate Catherine Hatfield scored with ease from the right hash, to give the Lions a 5-0 advantage. Senior Julia Herzog “capped off” the Lions’ first-half scoring “barrage” with a goal from the left hash in the 37th minute. Herzog’s goal provided Mount St. Joseph with a 6-0 lead into halftime. At the 85th-minute mark, senior Madison Hart scored the seventh and final goal of the contest for the Lions, to secure the Mount St. Joseph victory 7-0. The Lions dominated the shots category 36-0. Junior goalkeeper Sarah O’Shea stopped 14 Mount St. Joseph shots for the Yellow Jackets. Mount St. Joseph recorded eight corner kicks in the contest, while Defiance obtained zero.

When senior Brianna Snider was asked by The Defender about her overall thoughts on the season, she expressed, “I feel this season was an improvement compared to our last two seasons. Our record does not reflect the true improvements, but we played very well as a team this year, which was something we lacked in previous years. We showed offensive strives, and our defense held a variety of teams that are usually at the top of the HCAC conference from scoring. Overall, I am proud of these girls, and I hope they continue to strive for more next season.”

Football: Sat. Oct. 29

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 76 (5-3), Defiance 35 (1-7)

The Defiance College football team traveled to Terre Haute, Indiana Saturday afternoon to take on the Rose-Hulman Fightin’ Engineers in HCAC conference play. Rose-Hulman junior quarterback Miguel Robertson threw seven touchdown passes in the game, with all seven occurring in the first half. Quakers senior running back Lance Shelton rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Defiance senior quarterback Jordan Ambrose threw for 101 yards and two touchdowns, while also recording a rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Freshman quarterback Jehlani Warren capitalized on his “moments to shine” for the Yellow Jackets, as he threw for 112 yards and one touchdown. Warren also ran for 48 yards on five carries. Freshman running back Cooper Sloan rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown. Wide receivers (senior) Machari Bighams, (junior) Michael Martin, and (freshman) Da’Realyst Clark; each caught a touchdown pass in the game. Da’Realyst also returned six kickoffs for a total of 160 yards. Senior V’Sean Palmer led the Yellow Jackets’ defense with 11 tackles and four pass breakups, while (senior) Rigo Villa and (junior) Richard Pope IV each recorded one sack.

Women’s Cross Country: Sat. Oct. 29

The Defiance College women’s cross-country team traveled to Bluffton, Ohio, Saturday afternoon for the HCAC Championship at Bluffton University. Manchester University took home the team championship with a time of 2:01:35. The Spartans were led by senior Hannah Brubaker, who captured the individual runners’ crown with a time of 22:56:2. Freshman Shyla Pemberton, the lone runner for the Yellow Jackets, finished 60th among 69 runners with a time of 29:38.7.

Men’s Cross Country: Sat. Oct. 29

The Yellow Jackets men’s cross-country team traveled to Bluffton, Ohio, Saturday afternoon for the HCAC Championship at Bluffton University. The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology took home the team championship with a time of 2:09:59. Defiance did not compete in the team event. Manchester University junior Connor Havens, captured the individual runners’ crown with a time of 24:56:6. Freshman Alex Burney led a trio of Defiance runners’, as he finished 34th among 115 runners, with a time of 27:28:2. Freshman Marlon Brown finished in the 100th position with a time of 32:08:2. Sophomore Gavin Maratea rounded out the Yellow Jackets trio with a 115th place finish, at a time of 43:06:2.

Home

Saturday, Nov. 5

Football (1-7) vs Manchester University (1-7)

(Senior Day)

Location: Justin F. Coressel Stadium

(1:30 pm)

Away

Saturday, Nov. 5

Wrestling at Adrian College (Adrian College Invitational)

(10:00 am)