Written Sep. 23, 2009 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Junior forward Lindsey Rudibaugh scored in the 93rd minute to give the 14th-ranked Otterbein women’s soccer team a 1-0 overtime victory over Ohio Wesleyan Wednesday evening at Clements Field.
With the win, the team improves to 7-1 on the season and finds themselves winners of six straight.
Both teams fought back and forth in the opening half, as neither team managed find a way to score. Otterbein’s closest chance came in the 13th minute when senior midfielder Carly Dent missed wide on a shot into the box from the left side.
The Cards held a 6-2 shot advantage in the opening half.
After the first 45 minutes went scoreless, both sides continued to battle in the second stanza. OC’s Megan Cooper had two attempts on goal in the first 15 minutes of the half, but both were stopped by Wesleyan keeper Margot Klepetko.
The Cards out-shot the Bishops 6-1 in the second half, but were not able to score as the game headed for an extra session.
Just two minutes into overtime, sophomore Sarah Sharbaugh brought in a long kick from defender Jenny Knox, and passed it to nearby teammate Cristen Herold.
Herold then found Rudibaugh, her former high-school teammate, up the right side. Rudibaugh corralled the pass, beat a defender, and slipped the ball past Klepetko for the game-winner.
The score gives Rudibaugh her fourth goal of the season and 20th of her career.
Overall, Otterbein held a 13-3 edge in shots, with a 6-1 shots on goal advantage. The Cards attempted seven corner kicks compared to just four for the Bishops.
Klepetko tallied five saves for OWU while Cardinal goalie Tara Carter had one.
The victory allowed head coach Brandon Koons to raise the program’s overall record over .500. When Koons grabbed the reigns in 1999, the program held a 35-134-7 mark. Now, ten years later, the record stands at 179-178-23, giving Koons a .766 career win-loss percentage.
The team will now hit the road and travel to play Earlham (IN) on Saturday. First-kick is set for noon.
