Box Score

HUNTINGDON, Ala. – The Otterbein Cardinals began their 2015 season on a winning note Sunday afternoon, pulling away late to earn a 17-13 victory at Huntingdon University.

Otterbein University, winning its season opener for a third-straight spring, will return to action in the middle of the week with a pair of games at Birmingham-Southern College. The Cards open with a neutral-site game against Millsaps (Miss.) on Tuesday before squaring off with the host Panthers.

Huntingdon scored just 14 seconds into Sunday's affair, but Otterbein got it going and scored the next five goals to settle into an early advantage. The Hawks battled back to tie the game at 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8 before a goal from Courtney Hilfinger gave Otterbein a 9-8 lead at intermission.

The game was later tied, 11-11, with 23:18 to play in the game before the contest entered a nine-minute scoring draught. Otterbein freshman Nicole Coccagno broke the tie with 14:21 remaining, kicking off a run of five-straight Cardinal goals.

Huntingdon stopped the run by netting a score with 8:48 to play, but the damage had been done as Otterbein ultimately prevailed.

Cardinal senior Tory Blatt led all scorers with six goals on the day while Hilfinger and Coccagno each had three. Annie Kelly affected the game all over the field as usual, finishing with one goal, four assists and a game-high 10 draw controls.

Kathleen Flavin started in goal for Otterbein before giving way to Ariel Petroval just over 15 minutes in. The duo combined for eight saves in the winning effort.

The Hawks were led by four goals from Briana Gress and a game-best nine ground balls courtesy of Jen Price.