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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal women's soccer team wrapped up the 2014 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular-season championship Wednesday evening, scoring three times in the second half for a 3-0 win over visiting Marietta College.

Otterbein University, running its unbeaten streak to 12 matches, improves itself to 11-2-4 on the season and 7-0-1 within league play. The win gives head coach Brandon Koons and the program an eighth regular-season championship in the last 13 seasons, along with the No. 1 seed in next week's postseason tournament.

"The aspect of this team that I've been most excited and impressed with is that they are never out of a game," Koons said. "I've seen other teams fold when it's late in a game and things may not be going their way, but not this group. It doesn't matter if it's early or late. I haven't really seen that quality since our 2010 team. Their persistence and determination is a wonderful quality to have not just for soccer, but for life as well."

Otterbein and Marietta played to a scoreless first half, with the Cardinals heading into the break holding a 9-0 shot advantage. Otterbein had some good looks over the first 45 minutes, including a Jillian Strimbu header that sailed high and a breakaway shot from Madison Burchfield that was hit right into the hands the Pioneer goalkeeper.

 

The Cardinals dodged a bullet just prior to halftime when a Marietta free kick snuck through the box and near the foot of a Pioneer forward, who collided with Otterbein goalkeeper Dana Strimbu. The ball was struck into the net, but the referee waved off the goal due to a handball on the ground.

"Coming in, Marietta had allowed about 70 percent of their goals in the second half," Koons explained. "I was able to point that out to our girls at halftime and reinforce that everything we were doing was working and we would eventually crack through. We just kept chipping away like usual."

Otterbein finally got on the board early in the second half, watching senior Melinda Stemen track down a through ball from Abbey Miltko in the 53rd minute, corralling it, and then beating the goalie for her fifth goal of the season.

"There are no classes or individual statuses on this team," Stemen said afterwards. "We are one team that goes out there together and plays for one another. Every match means something, so we try to stay under control, communicate with one another throughout and just come together for our common cause. It's always a group effort."

The Cardinals doubled the margin less than three minutes later when defender Alex Ancona fed a nice pass into the middle, where Burchfield snuck in to take a quick touch and then curve a shot into the left portion of the goal. Erica Meier capped the scoring right at the 64:00 mark by dribbling through the Marietta defense and finishing strong.

Otterbein finished with a commanding 18-1 shot advantage, taking eight corner kicks and forcing Marietta keeper Rebecca Tenney into making eight saves. The Cardinals, having weathered through multiple injuries to key players this season, will continue to take it one match at a time down the stretch and now strive for an OAC Tournament crown.

"Every team has players that are beat up this time of year, but we are fine," Koons said. "We will do the best we can on off days to regenerate, then go play hard for another 90 minutes, and then get ready to come back out and do it all over again. It's a great time of year."

Otterbein will finish out the regular season schedule Saturday evening, hosting Mount Union at 7 p.m. as part of Senior Night. Ancona, Stemen and fellow seniors Ali Stone, KyLee Tuchfarber, Alicia Contrascier and Melissa Zang will be recognized during pregame for their contributions to the program.