UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio- The Cardinals trailed by just one goal heading into the fourth quarter, but the Blue Streaks outscored Otterbein 5-2 over the final 15 minutes to pull away with a 16-12 decision.
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The loss drops Otterbein to 3-5 overall and 1-1 inside the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). The win brings John Carroll to 3-4 overall and 2-0 in OAC action.
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The two sides traded goals in the first quarter before Otterbein strung together a two-goal run to pull ahead 4-2 after one. The start of the second saw JCU answer, though, to pull back even at four.
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A four-goal run, with all four goals coming from the stick of a different player, then helped the Cards push ahead 8-4, but JCU was able to tack on a late score to close the half.
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The second half started with seven unanswered goals from JCU, giving them an 11-8 advantage.
Emily Willms finally answered the drought with back-to-back scores, the second coming with just eight seconds left in the third.
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The hosts then held Otterbein scoreless until the 7:01 mark while adding four more scores to pull far enough ahead to hold off any comeback hopes.
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
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- Coming off a record-setting performance on Saturday, Willms once again paced the offense; she netted six goals on nine shots. Nina Domanik and Riley Smith each scored twice while two other Cards found the back of the net.
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- First-year goalie Maggie Nance made 15 saves in full time, tying her season set earlier in the season against Kenyon.
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- The Cardinals started the game with the minimum of 12 players and finished a player down, at one point competing with 10 following another yellow card.
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UP NEXT:
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Otterbein will return home to the familiar sight of Memorial Stadium on Saturday when Heidelberg comes to Westerville. Face-off is set for 1 p.m.
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