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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein University women's soccer team opened its new home in exciting fashion Wednesday evening, pulling out a 2-1, double overtime, victory over visiting Kenyon College in Memorial Stadium.

The match marked the first contest for the Cardinals in the recently renovated venue, where a new turf field and track was installed this past summer.

Both sides played to a scoreless first half, with Otterbein (3-2-3) nearly getting on the board in the 17th minute when leading-scorer Jillian Strimbu ripped a shot from 25 yards out that sailed just high enough to deflect off the cross bar.

Kenyon (3-5-1) saw an opportunity at the very end of the opening period on a corner kick, but a shot trickled wide and both sides entered intermission in the stalemate.

The Cardinals took the lead in the beginning of the 64th minute, starting up an initial scrum in the box before the ball popped out towards the top of the 18-yard marker. Freshman Alyssa Spencer was there to storm in and bury a shot for her second goal of the season.

Kenyon found a way to even things back up with under 10 minutes remaining when leading-scorer Becca Romaine found some space and drew a foul on goalkeeper Dana Strimbu, who was charging out of the Otterbein net. Romaine stepped up to bury the ensuing penalty kick that would ultimately force overtime.

The two teams played through a first overtime session with not much action, and Cardinal forward Megan McCabe nearly ended the match early in the second OT session with a shot that sailed just over the left corner of the goal.

Otterbein carved out some late magic as the final minute approached, watching senior KyLee Tuchfarber make a run up the side and eventually draw a foul down near the end line. Jillian Strimbu converted the penalty kick for her fourth score of the year and helped Otterbein emerge as winners.

The Cardinals, who will have the weekend off before hosting Hiram next Wednesday, finished with a 14-11 margin on shots and doubled up the Ladies on corner kicks, at 8-4.