Box Score
ALBION, Mich. – The Otterbein University men's lacrosse team fell victim on the road Saturday afternoon, dropping a 15-7 non-conference matchup on a cold day at Albion College.
The Britons (3-2) scored 36 seconds into the game and then opened a 2-0 lead before Otterbein countered back, getting consecutive goals from junior
Connor Dziewit to notch the score back up. Dziewit reached 100 career points following the second score, making him the sixth player in program history to do so.
Sophomore
Joe Sanfillipo converted a man-up goal, off an assist from Dziewit, to tie the contest at 3-3 at the end of the first quarter, but Albion found a groove and outscored the Cardinals 5-1 in the second period to assume an 8-4 lead by halftime.
Both sides traded goals back and forth as the third quarter progressed until the Britons hit another spurt, rattling off three-straight in down the stretch of the frame and carry a 13-6 cushion into the final 15 minutes.
Otterbein continued to battle but couldn't get much going in the fourth, scoring just once more off the stick of sophomore
Jake Grundey (man-up) before settling for the defeat.
Both teams attempted 24 shots on goal, but Albion goalie Trevor McManus came up with an impressive 17 saves to help spur his team.
James Gundling and
Connor Hinson once again split time evenly in the Otterbein cage, combining to stop nine shots.
The Cards were 4 of 7 on extra-man opportunities and kept the Britons at just 2 of 5 in the same situation, but the hosts secured 18 of the 25 faceoffs throughout to routinely maintain possession.
Dziewit led the Tan and Cardinal with four points (3G, 1A) while Sanfillipo had three of his own. Grundey scored twice while freshman
Mike Brendle also found the back of the net. Zach Hubbell paced Albion with a strong outing of six goals and two assists.
Otterbein, now 1-4 on the season, will be back on the field next Wednesday to host Washington and Jefferson College at 7:30 p.m. under the lights at Memorial Stadium. Otterbein posted a 14-8 victory at W&J last spring.
