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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Cardinal women's lacrosse team struck a late rally before ultimately falling short against Ohio Wesleyan University Wednesday afternoon, suffering an 11-8 defeat at local Thomas Worthington High School.

Otterbein University drops to 1-1 on the season with the loss, and will return to action Saturday afternoon against Oberlin College at nearby Westerville Central High School. Start time is slated for 3 p.m.

Ohio Wesleyan (1-0) controlled the majority of play throughout the first half, opening an early 5-1 advantage before taking a 9-4 lead into halftime.

The Bishops scored another goal to begin the second period, but the Cardinals found an offensive groove as sophomore Annie Kelly found junior Tory Blatt for three-straight goals in an 11-minute span to cut the deficit to 10-7 with 8:56 remaining.

Blatt returned the favor by finding Kelly for a fourth-straight Otterbein goal at the 7:00 mark, and the Cardinals held onto possession down the stretch looking to draw closer.

An up-close shot from Cardinal sophomore Morgan Hunsaker sailed wide left at the 4:41 mark, and the Bishop defense held strong to regain possession and ultimately add a final goal in the final 10 seconds.

Kelly and Blatt combined for nine points on the Otterbein side while Cate Bailey scored three times and assisted on another to lead OWU.

Otterbein freshman Maddy Blackburn was sensational on the draw control, winning nine on her own and corralling five ground balls to help ignite the Cardinal rally in the second half. Otterbein won 14 of 20 draw controls throughout the entire contest.

The Cardinals finished with a 21-15 shot advantage and just one more turnovers than the Bishops, but Ohio Wesleyan goalie Jordan Bernstein was able to make seven saves in the cage while Otterbein's Karen Brady had just three on the opposite end.