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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – An impressive defensive effort and timely scoring spearheaded the Otterbein men's lacrosse team to another home win Saturday afternoon, as the Cardinals turned back Albion College 12-8 in front of a nice crowd at a sunny Memorial Stadium.

The Cardinals, jumping to 2-0 on the young season, kept an Albion team that had scored a combined 35 goals in its first two games to just a single-digit output. Otterbein earns its second-straight victory in the series after a 13-7 triumph last year up in Michigan.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams opened strong offensively, with Otterbein taking a 4-1 lead before a pair of Albion scores made it a seven-goal first quarter.
   
• The Cardinals eventually carried a 6-4 lead into the break behind a first-half hat trick from Logan Fenech.
   
• Otterbein made key adjustments and found breathing room in the third quarter, outscoring Albion 4-1 in the frame as freshman Nick Asuan came on to contribute three critical points (2G, 1A).
   
• The Britons scored a few down the stretch of the day, but a pair of man-up goals from Otterbein's Mike Brendle kept the visitors at arm's length.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Brendle and Fenech combined for seven goals while attackman Xander Seal, coming off a five-goal performance in the opener, dished out five assists this time around despite facing double coverage all day.
   
• Otterbein finished with a 44-28 shot advantage and was 3 of 5 on extra-man opportunities.
   
• The Cardinal defense was stingy all day, forcing Albion to go just 9 of 17 on clear attempts and 1 of 4 on man-up situations.
   
• Albion won 15 of 23 faceoffs behind Fernano Robison, but 11 saves by Otterbein goalie Bryce Perram helped balance things out a bit. Justin McKee added a team-high five ground balls across the field.

 
UP NEXT:

Otterbein will have the middle of next week off before welcoming The College of Wooster into the stadium Friday night at 7 p.m.