PHOTO GALLERY
WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal women's lacrosse team went to-to-toe with six-time defending Ohio Athletic Conference champion Mount Union Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Stadium, holding an early lead before ultimately dropping a 21-16 decision.
Otterbein, entering the day with a three-game win streak and newfound confidence, now drops to 5-3 on the season with the defeat. The Purple Raiders improve themselves to 6-1 overall after the comeback.
HOW IT WENT DOWN:
- An inspired Otterbein squad came absolutely flying out of the gate. The Cardinals held a 7-1 lead by the 18:52 mark, regrouping after an early Mount Union goal to score seven-straight times. Julia Karas, Macey Buchanan and Emily Willms all scored two in the stretch, which featured multiple assists by Carli Rigel.
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- Mount Union eventually kicked into gear, weathering that storm by trading goals and then posting a 5-0 run to end the half. As a result, the Raiders took momentum and a 12-11 lead into the break.
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- Buchanan tied the game at 12-12 to begin the second half, but Mount responded with three-consecutive goals to find some breathing room. Both sides then traded a pair of goals, leaving the contest 17-15 at the midway point of the period.
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- The Raiders strung together a difference-making run from there to pull away, netting four unanswered over the next few minutes to escape with the road victory.
STATS THAT MATTERED MOST:
- A total of 71 shots were fired in the game, as goalies Leah McNutt (Otterbein) and Molly McGinnis (MTU) both finished with 10 saves.
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- Otterbein, excelling at the draw all season, won 24 of 39 chances to keep themselves in position throughout. Rigel won 11 by herself.
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- Only four Cardinals scored in the contest, but they all tallied hat tricks or better; Willms (6), Karas (4), Carli Rigel (3) and Buchanan (3).
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- The five-goal margin was the closest Otterbein has played powerhouse Mount Union in the all-time series.
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UP NEXT:
Otterbein will have a full week off before getting back to action next Saturday, traveling up to Berea for a rematch with Baldwin Wallace. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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