WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Women's Soccer advanced to Sunday's Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament championship match after knocking off the visiting No. 4-seeded Wilmington Quakers, 5-1, in the semifinals.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Cardinals all but won the game in the first 45 minutes of action, outshooting the Quakers 25 to 2 and dominating the time of possession. Otterbein jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when
Emily Ganz sent a through ball down field that found
Bella Shivley who unselfishly tapped the ball off to
Delaney Earl for the score.
Ganz earned her second assist of the half in the 22nd minute when she found
Priscilla Severance who streaked behind her defender for the goal. Eight minutes later Ganz collected her third assist, this time it was defender
Ashley Boy who snuck into the offensive zone and found the back of the net.
In the 33rd minute the Quakers found the back of the net for their only score of the night with a shot across the face of the goal just past the outstretched hand of
Erin Gordon. The goal was the first the Cardinals had allowed since way back on March 21st, a 9-2 win over Baldwin Wallace.
A pair of Cardinal freshmen made their presence felt to close the half with
Anjuli Anderson assisting
Sydney Walker for her second goal of the season, giving the Cards a 4-1 lead at the break.
Otterbein took its foot off the gas and rested its starters most of the second half in preparation for Sunday, but
Myiah Kelley would not be denied her sixth score of the season as she buried one right as the clock hit zero.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
The Cardinals held a large advantage in shots for the enitre game, firing off 31 compared to just six for the Quakers. Of Otterbein's 31 shots, 19 were on target while Wilmington managed just two on frame, both of which came in the first half.
Quaker goalie Lauren Galloway limited the Cardinals scoring with 14 saves, including some extremely athletic and acrobatic ones coming on back-to-back shots.
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY:
Otterbein will host No. 2-seeded Ohio Northern in what should be an entertaining rematch for the crown Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Head Coach
Brandon Koons will enter the match holding 299 career victories.
The Cardinals and Polar Bears will be meeting in the tournament final for a third-straight season, with both sides having emerged victorious in overitme on their home field.
