WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein, holding a #11 national ranking and the tournament’s top seed, won the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament championship Saturday afternoon by defeating 23rd-ranked Ohio Northern 2-0 at Clements Field.

The victory gives the team its second straight tournament title, as the group also defeated Northern 2-0 in last year’s title game.

The game opened with both teams feeling each other out, as only six total shots were attempted in the first 33 minutes.

With less than three minutes remaining in the half, OC’s Tara Smith blocked a kick up into the air and saw the ball fall towards junior Lindsey Rudibaugh in the box. As she was getting taken down by a defender, Rudibaugh poked the ball over to freshman Molly Newhouse, who deposited it into the back of the net for the score.

The goal was Newhouse’s second of the season and her career. She also registered the game-winner in a 3-1 victory over Wilmington back on October 3.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 advantage into the break.

Otterbein had a chance to extend the lead on a corner kick at the 58:16 mark when a header from junior Jenny Knox appeared to have ONU goalkeeper Kristen DeWees beat. However, a Polar Bear defender blocked the shot and kept Otterbein from scoring.

Northern then went on the attack in attempt to even the game, placing more pressure on the Cardinal defense. The Polar Bears saw several chances, but their best might have come in the 78th minute when the ball was loose in the box and Otterbein keeper Tara Carter was fighting to track it down. Fortunately for the Cardinals, a shot from ONU’s Kaitlin Sanders barely made its way off her foot before it was blocked by Otterbein.

With just under three minutes remaining in the game, Rudibaugh lofted a pass over the head of an Ohio Northern player at midfield and towards teammate Jessica Yaney. A freshman, Yaney headed the ball around the defender, regained control, and took it in to beat DeWees and push the lead to 2-0.

The goal was Yaney’s first of her career and marked the 14th different Cardinal to tally a goal this season. Both Cardinal goals came with 2:46 remaining in the respective halves.

Otterbein held a 13-8 edge in shots as well as a 4-2 corner-kick advantage.

DeWees recorded three saves for Northern while Carter stopped five shots and proved valuable by snagging multiple balls that made their way into the box.

By holding the Polar Bears scoreless on the day, the Cardinals tallied their 16th shutout of the season.

With the win, Otterbein receives an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III women’s soccer tournament. The program will be making its second-straight trip to the big dance and fifth appearance in the last six years. The Cardinals fell 1-0 to Amherst in the Sweet 16 a year ago.