Written March 13, 2010 by Adam Prescott
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Freshman Alex Dowell scored five goals and the Otterbein men’s lacrosse team earned the program’s first victory, defeating Hendrix (AR) 11-5 Sunday afternoon at DeSales Stadium.
The Cards move to 1-1 on the season, while Hendrix falls to 0-4.
Dowell gave Otterbein a quick lead, putting a shot past Warrior goalie Keith Clemens just 50 seconds in to make the score 1-0.
Hendrix tied the game at 1-1 early in the second quarter, but freshman Graham Shippy scored two goals within the next three minutes to put the Cards ahead 3-1.
The Warriors responded with two goals, the second of which coming just eight seconds before halftime, to tie the game (3-3) at the break.
Michael Hughes put OC back on top at 4-3 in the first minute of the third quarter, and fellow freshman Juan Contreras and Dowel would score man-up goals to extend the advantage to 6-3.
Hendrix scored the last goal of the third quarter and the first goal of the fourth, but the Cards tallied the next five (three from Dowell) en route to the 11-5 win.
“We had a long preseason of almost seven weeks, and it took our first game to get our feet under us," said head coach Colin Hartnett. "We felt prepared for Hendrix and we were able to execute our game plan.”
Shippy totaled three scores while Hughes had two, and junior Brad Pendy tied for a game-best three assists. Steve Resch registered a game-high 11 ground balls.
“We had some great individual performances, but it was our team play in the second half that won that game for us," said Hartnett.
Tim Wojcik and Ben Nelson each scored twice for Hendrix.
Each team picked up 46 ground balls, and also notched ten faceoff victories apiece.
Otterbein freshman goalie Adam Hatchard recorded 12 saves, while Clemens stopped 13 shots for the Warriors.
“Adam played great in the cage for us," Hartnett said. "He will anchor our defense and keep us in games this season.”
The Cards have nine days off before resuming action during a North Carolina trip, competing against Greensboro on the 23rd and Guilford on the 25th.
