Anderson Outlasts Defiance with Double-Overtime Game Winner

The Anderson University men's soccer team was on the road Wednesday in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest against the Defiance College Yellow Jackets. In similar fashion to how most of the Ravens HCAC games have gone, the Ravens found themselves in double overtime. In the second overtime period, the Ravens were able to pick up a goal to come home with a 2-1 victory.

The match started in favor for the Ravens (6-6-2, 3-0-2) as they had four shots and two corner kicks within the first 18 minutes.

Another shot in the game wouldn't come until the 30^th minute, but this one would be different from the ones before as it found its way into the back of the net for a Ravens goal. The Ravens took the lead with a goal from Caleb Opoku (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington), his first of the season. After receiving the ball off a free kick, Opoku passed the ball to Usman Kamara (Indianapolis, Ind. / Franklin Central). Kamara then turned his body and passed the ball in-between Yellow Jacket defenders back to Opoku who was able to slide the ball in-between the defense and the Yellow Jackets (7-9, 2-3) goalkeeper into the opposite side of the goal's side netting.

Defiance would take two shots while Ravens took one in the remaining 15 minutes. Danny Moro-Medina (Goshen, Ind. / Goshen) came up with a save to keep the Ravens ahead. Drew Sonnefeldt (Lisle, Ill. / Lisle) looked to build on the Ravens lead in the 44^th minute, but his shot was stopped by Defiance's goalkeeper Orry Killam.

Anderson led 1-0 heading into halftime.

The Ravens lead wouldn't last long coming out of the half though. The Yellow Jackets would get on the board in the 52^nd minute with a goal by Will Gehlhausen.

Eight shots would be taken by the Ravens during the second half. They held the Yellow Jackets to just two after their goal earlier in the half. Neither team was able to find the goal throughout the remainder of the half, sending the game into overtime.

Anderson continued an offensive attack in the first overtime period. The Ravens had five shots, but were only able to get one on frame, which was stopped by Defiance's goalkeeper. The Yellow Jackets picked up one shot, but hit it high.

In the second overtime period, the Ravens conceded a free kick outside the 18-yard box, but didn't allow the Yellow Jackets to make anything of it. Then, in the 103^rd minute, Stephen Fite (Cincinnati, Ohio / Homeschool) would intercept a pass near half field. Fite then took off with the ball, using his speed to get past the Yellow Jackets and all the way down to the end line. Fite was able to get the Yellow Jacket goalkeeper to come off his line before passing the ball off to a defenseless Sam Rowlison (Fishers, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern). Rowlison aimed the ball into the center of the goal, but it was deflected and hit off the post before crossing the goal line, giving the Ravens a golden goal victory.

During the match, the Ravens outshot the Yellow Jackets 20-to-7, taking nine shots on goal compared to the Yellow Jackets four. Stephen Fite led the Ravens with five shots, two on goal. Caleb Opoku followed with four shots, putting his only shot on frame into the back of the net. Victor Silva had three shots, two on goal. Caleb Gonser (Terre Haute, Ind. / Terre Haute South) and Art Hinton IV (Indianapolis, Ind. / Covenant Christian) both had two shots with one on goal. Sam Rowlison put his only shot in the goal. Drew Sonnefeldt hit his only shot on frame. Cameron Knox (Pinnacle, N.C. / West Stokes) and Usman Kamara rounded out the shots with one each. Danny Moro-Medina made three saves in goal for the Ravens. Caleb Opoku and Jaxon Gillig (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) led the Ravens with two steals. Dalton Grubbs (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel)and Stephen Fite each picked up two intercepts.

After the match, Head Coach Scott Fridley said the following: "I am so proud of the boys for finishing the game.  We have had many points of inconsistency in games this year and this was no different [Wednesday]. But we got back to what got us here and opportunities to win. So happy for Sam with the winning goal. Fite got around the corner and found Sam sitting on the far post. Happy for these fellas. It takes 33 guys to get these games no matter their role. They are all important to what we are trying to accomplish. Our depth is excellent and it seems we have a different star every day.  Winning in the HCAC is hard enough, let alone on the road. Defiance is such a good team and well coached. Cory has done a great job with that program. That is a quality win. Now we focus on the next game and get ready for it."

Anderson is now set to be back on the road Sunday as they head to Bluffton, Ohio to take on the Bluffton University Beavers (7-4, 3-2). Kickoff is set to take place at 3:30PM.