ERIE, Pa. – The Otterbein women's soccer team started their season off on the right foot, recording back-to-back shutouts against Thomas More and Penn State-Behrend, winning the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament.
Katie Exline earned MVP honors following a goal in each contest.
Day One (Otterbein – 3, Thomas More – 0)
Otterbein has now won three consecutive season-opening matches. In the first half the Cardinals and the Saints were unable to find the back of the net, however the second half was all Cards scoring three unanswered goals.
The first 45 minutes Otterbein attempted five shots compared to Thomas More's two, with each team attempting two corner kicks.
After 11 quality shots,
Bella Shivley opened up the scoring action in the 59th minute for the Tan and Cardinal.
Delaney Earl stole the ball from a Saint defender on Thomas More's side of the pitch, followed by a perfect cross finding the right foot of Shivley giving Otterbein its first goal of the 2018 campaign.
Thomas More did all it could to keep Otterbein off the scoreboard, but once the Cardinals scored one they would not let up. Two minutes later Earl got involved in the scoring action. Junior
Haley Hott dribbled past multiple Saints before playing a through ball to Earl for the second goal of the contest.
Exline put the nail in the coffin with a strike from outside the box putting Otterbein up 3-0, scoring her first goal of the season. Otterbein attempted 20 shots, 15 of which were on goal, compared to Thomas More's three attempts.
Day Two (Otterbein – 2, Penn State-Behrend 0)
Otterbein's defense once again stepped up blanking the opposing side. On offense the Cardinals were able to find the back of the net in both the first and second half.
In the 38th minute Exline dribbled the ball between the legs of a Lion defender, then placing the ball in the upper-right corner giving the Tan and Cardinal a 1-0 lead. Cardinal goalkeeper
Erin Gordon stopped the lone attempt from Penn State-Behrend in the first half, as Otterbein went into the break leading 1-0 and holding a 7-2 advantage in the shots category.
The second half started off great for the Cards scoring a quick goal in the 47th minute.
Priscilla Severance tallied her first goal of the year, taking a pass from Hott and attempting a shot from outside the box which hit off the hands of Madi Jones and trickled into the net, giving Otterbein 2-0 lead.
The Cards' defense stayed strong not allowing Penn State-Behrend any serious chances the remainder of the contest. Gordon recorded three saves over the weekend as the Cardinal defense did a stout job of only allowing seven shots over the 180 minutes.
Next up, Otterbein will remain on the road battling against Denison on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
