Box Score HIRAM, Ohio – The Otterbein men's soccer team extended its winning streak to five games with a 4-1 win over Hiram on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals improve to 5-3-1 on the year with a victory in their final regular season non-conference matchup, outscoring their opponents 21-6 during the current win streak.
"Tonight was a good team effort all around," said head coach
Gerry D'Arcy. "We had a disciplined defense, hustle in the midfield, and we finished when the chances arose."
Josh Kellner opened the scoring for Otterbein in the 13th minute, tallying his second goal of the year on a ball that was struck in from right of the Terrier goal.
Otterbein maintained its one goal advantage for the remainder of the first period, despite allowing Hiram to own the lead in shots, 6-3.
Just over two minutes into the second half,
Luis Rivas broke away from the Hiram defense and found the right corner on a well struck ball to give the Cards' a two-goal advantage. The goal was Rivas' sixth of the winning streak and eighth overall.
The Terriers were awarded a penalty kick in the 65th minute following a foul by the Cardinals, to which Otterbein goalkeeper
Mack Stamper saved the shot off the foot of Jake Pastore. However, the ball was rebounded by Zac Cairns and put in to cut the Terrier deficit to 2-1.
Alex Holtom and
Nate Norris each scored a goal in the final 10 minutes of action to help seal the victory. Holtom scored off a deflection past Hiram goalkeeper Chris Lindemeyer, before Norris headed in a ball off an assist by
Reid Wolfe.
The Cardinals ended the game with a narrow 12-11 margin in shots, while totaling an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Hiram was issued three yellow cards and one red card on the night, being forced to play down one player for the remaining 3:12 of the match.
Otterbein now turns its attention to Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play, having outscored its first nine opponents by a combined 25-14 and allowing a 1.52 goals-against average as a team.
D'Arcy noted that his team is "as ready as we can can be for conference play." The Cards play host to Heidelberg on Saturday at 1 p.m.
