Box Score PHOTO GALLERY


WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein men's soccer team used an outburst of second-half scoring to win its home opener Wednesday night inside Memorial Stadium, emerging with a 4-1 victory over Oberlin College during non-conference action under the lights.

Neither team was able to hit the scoreboard throughout the first half, as Otterbein controlled majority of possession. Oberlin (0-3) had the ball in the Cardinal defensive back-end for just 11 percent of the time before intermission.

The Cards regrouped at halftime and struck early in the second period at 48:23, taking advantage of an Oberlin foul roughly 35 yards out. Senior Eric Stucky lofted a free kick from the middle of the field into a crowded box, where 6'4" defender Seth Smith found the ball in traffic and promptly headed the ball home.

Otterbein (2-1) then had a prime opportunity to extend its lead just a few minutes later after forward Paul Hensley was fouled in the box. Unfortunately, Stucky had his ensuing penalty attempt stopped as Yeomen goalkeeper Max Buri made a diving save.

An offensive explosion began about five minutes later, beginning with the Cardinals extending the lead to 2-0 after Pau Piang maneuvered through defenders in the attacking end and slipped a nice pass to freshman Will Isaac, who was there for a quick one-touch and his first collegiate goal.

Oberlin responded just 25 seconds later at the 57:51 mark, as Jack McMillin corralled a pass from Ben Kessler and rocketed a shot upper-right corner from 30 yards away. Not to be outdone, Piang responded for Otterbein in the 61st minute by outworking a pair of defenders up the right side and burying a shot from 20-25 yards out.

The Cardinals capped the scoring early in the 78th minute with more persistence, when freshman Gabe Sharrock fed a nice pass from the right side to the foot of Piang for the shifty senior's second goal. Otterbein nearly made it 5-1 on multiple occasions, as crisp shots from Sharrock and Piang both hit the crossbar down the stretch.

Otterbein finished with a 22-7 shot margin and defeats Oberlin for a second-straight season, following last year's 2-1 triumph on the road. The Cards also held an 8-5 edge in corners and forced Buri into making six saves.

The Cardinals will finish out the week at Hanover College in Indiana, with start time scheduled for 4 p.m.