WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Senior Abby Smoot scored five times on Senior Night, classmate Now Crowley added a game-high five draw controls and the Otterbein women's lacrosse team led wire-to-wire in a comfortable 16-8 triumph over Ohio Northern Wednesday inside Memorial Stadium.

The Cardinals, advancing to 7-9 overall but more importantly 4-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), stay alive for a spot in the league's four-team postseason tournament with one game remaining.

Otterbein, currently locked with John Carroll for the fourth and final spot, will need to win at Baldwin Wallace this weekend and then see what JCU does as well. The Blue Streaks will play Ohio Northern and hold a head-to-head tiebreaker against the Cards.


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Otterbein wasted no time seizing the night after recognizing its senior class, opening the game on a 6-0 run inside the first 12 minutes of play. Cameron Finnegan scored three times while Julia Karas added two.
   
• The Cards kept Ohio Northern at arm's length leading into halftime, going into the break with a 9-4 advantage.
   
• Otterbein put the game away with another 6-0 run to begin the second half, getting the contest to a running clock and forcing ONU to maximize every opportunity.
   
• The Polar Bears closed strong with a 4-1 scoring spurt themselves, but it wouldn't be enough as Otterbein prevailed with the much-needed win.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Smoot led all players with six points while Karas added five and Finnegan/Kiera Mulcahy each posted three.
   
• The Cards captured 18 of 26 draws, headlined by five from Crowley, and received three caused TO's from Katie Barber on the defense.
   
• Otterbein finished with a commanding 40-19 shot advantage, forcing ONU goalie Kelli Hill to make 13 saves throughout. Cardinal goalie Allison Rhoads had six stops as well.
   
• Smoot, Crowley, Kenna Walquist, Angela Park and student coach Cayla McNeil were all recognized pregame for their contributions to the program.
   

 
UP NEXT:

Otterbein heads to Berea for the critical showdown at BW, which is scheduled to begin inside George Finnie Stadium at 1 p.m.