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WESTERVILLE, Ohio –  The Otterbein women's lacrosse team came up short during its home opener Thursday afternoon inside a sunny yet very cold Memorial Stadium, dropping a 16-10 contest with Division II Notre Dame College in what felt like a marathon game.

The contest, originally scheduled for 5 p.m. and then recently moved up to 4:30, was then delayed almost a half hour to begin the day following some late arrivals. In the end, Notre Dame pulled away in the second half to win its season opener after a two-hour and 10-minute affair.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both sides traded goals throughout 28-degree temperature to begin the matchup, with the Falcons quickly opening a 3-0 lead by the 21:56 mark.
   
• Otterbein eventually settled in behind the hot stick of freshman Emily Willms, who scored three-straight times for her team midway through the period. The Cards eventually went into halftime down just 7-6 after scores from Macey Buchanan and Lauren Newkirk culminated the frame.
   
• Notre Dame regrouped to take control, beginning the second half with three-consecutive goals all as part of an 8-1 run to find breathing room.
   
• Otterbein, playing without 2x All-OAC performer Julia Karas, kept fighting down the stretch to close the night on a 3-1 run.
   

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Willms led all goal scorers with five on the day while Newkirk added four points, coming on a goal and three helpers. Ebony Riddick scored four on the opposite side for ND, which had four multi-goal contributors.
   
• Otterbein actually finished with advantages in total shots, 39-32 and draw controls, 15-13, but Notre Dame had five more on goal. Newkirk and Mulcahy combined for 10 of those draws.
   
• The Falcons benefited on free-position shots, going 7 of 11 compared to just a 2 of 6 output for the home side.
   
• Leah McNutt made nine saves in goal before getting replaced late by Tasha Williams, who came up with another four stops.

 
UP NEXT:

Otterbein will stay at home to close out the week, hosting Wittenberg come Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.