Rowan Box Score
Drew Box Score
HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY – The third-ranked Otterbein University women’s soccer team picked up a pair of wins to start the season, defeating Rowan University 1-0 and Drew University by a count of 3-1 at the Centenary (NJ) Tournament Friday and Saturday afternoons.
The Cards struck early on day one as sophomore newcomer Morgan Hendrickson found a corner kick from Rachel Denz and slipped a shot past the goalie in the 12th minute.
“It was really awesome,” said Hendrickson of her first goal as a Cardinal. “It was such a good way to start the season.”
Otterbein’s defense would hold steady the remainder of the way to preserve the victory.
Freshman Sarah Uhlenbrock and Melissa Zang each played one half in goal to help earn the shutout.
Day two saw the team fall behind 1-0 by halftime against Drew despite holding an 11-2 shot advantage.
The group responded quickly in the second half when Hendrickson sent a shot over the Drew keeper to tie the contest in the 56th minute. Junior Emily Bates then scored the eventual game-winner ten minutes later after receiving a corner from Denz and kicking it home.
Senior Adrienne Novak received a ball up the right side from Hendrickson in the 77th minute and drilled a shot home for an insurance goal.
“We realized that we didn’t play too well in the first half,” said Hendrickson. “Our group had confidence that we were the better team and we had no choice but to raise our play in the second half. We went after every ball and eventually scored a few.”
Otterbein held a dominant 22-2 shot advantage and took 15 corners compared to just one for the Rangers.
Junior Kaitlyn Shultz started in goal before Uhlenbrock came on to post a scoreless 45 minutes in the second half for an Otterbein team breaking in many new faces.
“I think our chemistry was better than anticipated,” Hendrickson explained. “We went out there to play as a team and everything came together.”
Hendrickson, Denz, Novak, and freshman defender Ali Stone were selected to the All-Tournament team.
The squad next travels to battle Hiram Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. before hitting the road to take part in the Transylvania (KY) Tournament Sept. 10-11.
