Box Score Photo GalleryWESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein University men's lacrosse team fell victim in its 2016 season opener Wednesday night at Memorial Stadium, falling to No. 10-ranked Ohio Wesleyan by a score of 17-4.
The Bishops, the defending North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) champions and NCAA quarterfinalist in 2015, improve to 2-0 on the season while the Cardinals will look to bounce back Saturday afternoon at Wittenberg.
Otterbein appeared poised for an upset in the early going, taking a 2-0 lead after goals from seniors
Marcus Willis and
Robbie Guiliano in the first-nine minutes. Ohio Wesleyan eventually settled in, finishing the opening quarter on a 4-0 run and then outscoring the Cards 5-1 in the second period for a 9-3 lead by intermission.
OWU put the game away after halftime, scoring the only two goals of the third quarter and the first-six goals of the final period en route to the win. Otterbein freshman
Joe Sanfillipo scored the first goal of his career with 2:38 remaining in the contest off a pass from Nich Tholt.
Willis finished with two goals to lead Otterbein, which was outshot 52-20 overall and 28-9 on goal. Junior goalie
James Gundling finished with 11 saves, seven coming in the first half.
Max Tennant ripped in five goals to lead the Bishops while teammate Marcus Dietz added three of his own. The Bishops won 16 of 25 faceoffs and forced the Cards into committing 22 turnovers.
Both sides combined to go 0 for 8 on extra-man opportunities.
Â
