Box Score

ADA, Ohio – The Otterbein women's lacrosse team kept its hopes alive for a spot in the upcoming Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament Wednesday night, sprinting past host Ohio Northern by a score of 13-3 at Dial-Roberson Stadium.

The Cardinals, back to 7-7 on the year and 4-3 against the league, will play at John Carroll Saturday evening for the fourth and final spot in the postseason bracket.

Otterbein assumed a 4-1 lead after a pair of goals from sophomore Abby Smoot midway through the first half, but the Polar Bears (3-12, 2-5 OAC) stayed within 4-3 following two scores of their own.

The Cardinals pulled away with a difference-making spurt before intermission, finishing the period on a 4-0 run that resulted in a five-goal cushion.

Otterbein kept ONU at arm's length throughout the second half, getting another three goals in the initial 7:16 of action and then riding to victory behind a stingy defensive effort.

Smoot matched her career-high with four goals in the game while senior Katy Williams turned in a four-point effort as well, netting three goals and assisting another.  Veronica Wagner added two goals of her own for a Cardinal group that had six-different goals scorers throughout.

Wagner snagged eight draw controls from start to finish, running her season total to 82 as she continues building on her Otterbein single-season record in the category. She also ranks second in the OAC at the moment.

The Cards finished with a decisive 43-14 shot advantage and received a stellar defensive effort across the board, limiting Ohio Northern to just a 14 of 32 success rate on clears and getting a career-high seven caused turnovers from defender Ali Kula. She remains second amongst the conference leaders.

Williams picked up a career-best nine ground balls while Kula and Cristiana Nicholas both hauled in six. Goalie Tasha Williams made seven stops in the cage.