Box Score
BEXLEY, Ohio – The Otterbein University women's soccer team fell short in its quest for another Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular-season title Saturday, suffering a 1-0 loss at rival Capital University.
The Cardinals (11-6-1, 6-3 OAC) finish tied for third in the league standings with Ohio Northern, but will be the No. 4 seed in the upcoming OAC Tournament as a result of its 1-0 loss to the Polar Bears earlier this season. Otterbein will host fifth-seeded Mount Union Tuesday, 2 p.m., in a quarterfinal matchup at Clements Field.
Otterbein saw a few runs early in the match at Capital, winning a pair of corner kicks but coming up empty each time.
The Crusaders (14-4-1, 7-2 OAC) looked to have a prime opportunity with just under 14 minutes remaining in the first half, as Cardinal goalkeeper Dana Strimbu came off her line to corral a ball but collided with an incoming forward. Capital's ensuing shot on the open net sailed high to keep the match scoreless.
Capital freshman Claire Quinn put the hosts on top just before the half, scoring the eventual difference-maker by drilling a shot from 25 yards out that sailed into the right side of the net.
The Cardinals nearly evened the match early in the second half when Morgan Hendrickson beat a defender around the corner and sent a pass into the box. Leading-scorer Jillian Strimbu appeared ready to finish the sequence, but Capital goalie Maggie Donnellan stepped forward to get just enough off the ball for a save.
Capital thought it took a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute when the ball hit the back of the net after another collision, but it was ruled that a Crusader had kicked the ball while Strimbu already had it in her grasp.
The Cardinals continued to battle down the stretch, and saw the best chance to score with just under five minutes remaining when Donnellan made a diving save to her right and stopped a Hendrickson shot from the middle of the box.
Otterbein finished with an 8-7 shot advantage and took all six of the corner kicks awarded throughout the match. Dana Strimbu had two saved while Donnellan was forced to make seven on the Capital side.
