Box Score

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal men's lacrosse team dropped its second match of the season after falling to Wittenberg, 12-8, in its home opener Saturday afternoon.

Otterbein now turns its attention to its two-game trip over spring break, where the Cardinals begin by facing Birmingham-Southern on Tuesday at 4 p.m. (CST).

The Cardinals were first to ink the scoreboard less than 30 seconds into play, as sophomore Mike Roman found the back of the net for his first goal of the season off an assist from senior Nick Tholt.

Otterbein took a 2-0 advantage just over two minutes later following sophomore Joe Sanfillipo's second score of the season. Wittenberg then tallied three-straight goals in over a span of 7:35, the last coming on a man-down situation in favor of the Cards.

Freshman Mike Brendle knotted the score at three apiece with 1:52 to spare in the first quarter, as a total of 20 shots were unloaded between the two teams in the frame.

Wittenberg accounted for three of the four goals scored in the second period, with Tholt notching the lone Cardinal goal off an assist from sophomore Ian Moews to pull the team within two scores at halftime.

The Tigers were credited with 29 shots in the opening half, 14 of which came on goal, while the Cardinals posted 16 of their own with only six coming on goal.

Sophomore Jake Grundey narrowed the Cards' deficit to 6-5 less than four minutes into the third quarter off junior Connor Dziewit's second assist of the year, before Wittenberg reclaimed a two-goal lead just under three minutes later.

Otterbein managed to tie the score at seven apiece with 2:33 left in the third quarter following back-to-back goals from Brendle and Grudney, both of which were their second on the day.

Wittenberg responded with three unanswered scores spanning the end of the third period and into the first 6:23 of the final frame.

Dziewit tacked on a late goal for the Cards midway through the fourth quarter, but to no avail as the Tigers added a pair of insurance goals over the final seven minutes of action.

Seniors James Gundling and Connor Hinson split time in goal, combining for 14 shots saved with Gundling credited for eight of them.