Box Score

OBERLIN, OHIO - Otterbein (1-2) rallied from a 1-0 second half deficit to pull even and eventually earn a 2-1 overtime victory over Hiram (1-2) on a golden goal by junior Matthew Aardema Sunday afternoon at the Oberlin Tournament.

Despite holding an 11-5 shot advantage over the first 45 minutes, the Cards were unable to muster a goal as the game headed to halftime locked at 0-0.

Hiram got on the board when Petar Knezevic rebounded a saved shot off the hands of Otterbein keeper Alex Kamphaus and deposited it into the net for the 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals nearly scored late in the 72nd minute when a shot deflected off a Hiram player in front of the net, but Aardema was there to corral the loose ball and sent it into the lower right corner of the goal to even the game at 1-1.

Otterbein freshman goalkeeper Kyle Ripma, making his collegiate debut by replacing Kamphaus, saved a shot at the very end of regulation to preserve the tie and force overtime.

Aardema had a shot blocked in the opening few minutes of overtime, and a minute later took a centered pass up the middle from JP Lococo and found the back of the net for the victory.

Hiram out-shot Otterbein 15-7 in the second half to hold a narrow 21-18 advantage for the game, and also took five corners compared to none for the Cardinals.

Kamphaus totaled four saves in 69 minutes for Otterbein while Ripma stopped one shot over the last 36 minutes of action.

The team next travels to battle Denison on Wednesday, September 8. Game time from Granville is slated for 7:30 p.m.