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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The most anticipated matchup of the entire Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women's soccer season was finally brought to the field at a wet and rain-soaked Memorial Stadium Wednesday night, as Otterbein and Ohio Northern took the pitch for a nationally-ranked showdown of league unbeatens.

In the end, it was No. 20-ranked Ohio Northern scoring twice during a three-minute span to escape with a 2-1 decision that encompassed everything from physical play, to driving rain, to close calls, to intense sidelines, to energetic fans and more.

Both teams shared the OAC regular-season title last fall before Otterbein delivered a thrilling 1-0 victory in overtime of the tournament championship at Memorial Stadium. This time, it was ONU that somehow emerged to claim the top need in next week's postseason event.

Otterbein, currently ranked No. 17 in the latest national poll, snaps a 10-game winning streak and absorbs its first loss in over six weeks. The Cardinals, now 14-2-1 on the year, will travel to third-place Capital this coming Saturday night with seeding and a first-round bye in the OAC Tournament on the line.

Neither team scored throughout the opening half despite Otterbein seeing the better of the chances, entering the break with a 7-1 shot advantage and a few close opportunities. ONU goalkeeper Megan Grieson was forced to make three saves and also watched a free kick from Cardinal standout Bella Shivley barely sail over the cross bar.

Otterbein jumped ahead 1-0 early in the second half, watching recent sub Myiah Kelley rip a perfect left-footed cross through the box and right to the head of classmate Priscilla Severance in the 49th minute. Grierson has almost no chance as Severance buried it home off her forehead to erupt the home sideline.

The Polar Bears (14-2-2, 8-0 OAC) found an equalizing moment just six minutes later after a foul was whistled from the right side of the box on a Cardinal defender. Rose Nienaber stepped up to beat Otterbein keeper Erin Gordon to the right and lock the game at 1-1.

ONU turned the tide once more just three minutes later after a sequence that began with a yellow card being issued to the Otterbein bench area. The Polar Bears used an ensuing throw-in to quickly move up the left side, where Nienaber found a streaking Jenna Fuller who had gotten behind the defense and then redirected a shot inside the far post. She and Shivley are the top-two scorers in the league this season.

The Cardinals turned up the intensity and pressed forward throughout the remaining 30-plus minutes, seeing multiple attempts as Ohio Northern packed in its defense. Its best opening appeared to be just a few moments after falling behind on a foul right at the edge of the box, which was ruled by the referee as just outside. Shivlet's ensuing free kick would hit the right post and ricochet out of bounds.

Emily Ganz nearly found an open net on a collision in front of the goal down the stregch, but the ball was kicked out by a defender, and Otterbein then came up empty on a few corner kicks. Two more chances would present themselves in the closing 90 seconds, but another free kick from Shivley curved just left of the post and then a lunging shot from Sydney Young went wide right.

Otterbein finished with a lopsided 22-5 shot advantage and also an 8-3 edge in corner kick. Grierson made eight saves for the visitors while Gordon did not have any. The two schools are now 2-2-2 against one another in the past six meetings.

The Cards can still share the OAC regular-season trophy with a win on Saturday coupled with an Ohio Northern loss. The Cards will be a No. 2 seed with a win, and No. 3 seed with a loss. The top two schools receive a quarterfinal bye in the six-team bracket. Start time from Bernlohr Stadium against Capital will be at 7 p.m.