NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Manchester University men's soccer team earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over the visiting Defiance College Yellow Jackets in double overtime at Spartan Stadium on Wednesday, March 10. The Black & Gold overcame a pair of deficits in regulation to stun Defiance in double OT.

Visiting Defiance opened the scoring in Wednesday's game with a goal from Noah Svanberg in the 26th minute. DC led 1-0 at the intermission.

The Spartans responded early in the second half. Senior Josh Gonzalez (Portage, Ind./Portage) played a terrific ball into the box that was headed in by Cory Mitchell (Maitland, Fla./Winter Park). It was Mitchell's first collegiate goal.

The Yellow Jackets went ahead once more just five minutes later with a goal from Jarren Casto.

Manchester broke through late, tying the game once more in the 81st minute. Jacob Knepper (Indianapolis, Ind./Mt. Vernon) provided the equalizer to tie the match at 2-2. Julian Keough (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) and Nick Surber (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) picked up assists on Knepper's first career goal.

Both teams remained gridlocked for the remainder of regulation and for the first overtime period.

In the second overtime period, a shot by Harley Kruschwitz (North Manchester, Ind./Manchester) hit the post and ricocheted back out to the top of the Manchester box. Cory Mitchell collected the rebound from the top of the box and fired a shot past the DC keeper, propelling MU to a thrilling 3-2 triumph.

The Black & Gold outshot Defiance 17-4 on Wednesday night. MU also held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The win gave Manchester three crucial points in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings. MU improved to 2-1, 2-1 HCAC.

Defiance (2-1, 2-1 HCAC) suffered its first loss of the season.

MU will travel to Earlham College on Saturday March, 13. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.