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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein women's lacrosse team got back to 8-8 on the season Wednesday afternoon inside Memorial Stadium, working past Ohio Northern, 20-15, in a high-scoring Ohio Athletic Conference showdown.

The Cardinals, improving to 4-3 within league play, are unfortunately eliminated from OAC Tournament contention despite the win as a result of John Carroll and Capital winning their respective matches to create enough separation. Otterbein will finish out its regular-season schedule this coming Saturday by hosting JCU.

Otterbein trailed 2-1 early on before a string of three-straight goals, the latter coming from Kiera Mulcahy at the 24:39 mark as the Cards never trailed again.

Otterbein built the lead to 10-6 by intermission behind the hot stick of freshman Julia Karas, but took the field a man-down for the entire second half after a second yellow card on Cristiana Nicholas forced the short hand.

The Cards fought to stay in front regardless, beginning the second period on a nice 4-0 run to open a 14-6 advantage and not look back. Ohio Northern (6-9, 3-4 OAC) made a run midway through the second half to get within 15-11 before Otterbein responded with four of the next-five goals.

Karas scored a season-high seven times to pace the Cardinal offense while junior Abby Smoot had a record-setting day herself. She tallied a hat trick to set new program single-season best in goals (54) and tie the record for most points (61).

Otetrbein finished with a slim 39-38 shot advantage and won 22 draw controls, eight coming from Karas and another eight by way of Noa Crowley. Nicholas caused three turnovers in the first half.

Ema Pusecker had a six-point day (3G, 3A) while Mulcahy and Crowley also joined in on the hat-trick efforts. Ohio Northern was led by three goals from both Ann McArn and Sabra Woodruff.