Box Score PHOTO GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein women's soccer team started even, found itself behind, and then fought back to even before eventually landing with a 1-1 draw at Memorial Stadium against DePauw Thursday night in the season opener for both squads.

In what marked the first-ever meeting between the programs, both sides found the back of the net prior to intermission and then couldn't crack through over the second half. Per new NCAA rules, overtime is no longer played during the regular season.

Both sides began feeling the other out in a very slow start, before the visitors eventually landed the first punch. DePauw, 2019 champions of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) before a few challenging years during the pandemic, scored in the 31st minute when Macy Happe lofted a ball into the box from 30 yards out…

The pass just barely cleared the head of  Cardinal defender and found the feet of charging teammate Ellie Mahan, who slipped a quick touch over the head of charging Otterbein keeper Ella Schwertfager.

Otterbein continued moving forward and soon found the equalizer just before the break. Defender Payton Kaufman ripped a free kick from midfielder into the attacking zone, which bounced off a Tiger defender and right near the feet of freshman Rae Ehrbar….

The promising newcomer, who had just recently checked into the match, redirected a shot across her body and into the net for her first-career goal at the 40:06 mark.

The contest saw just five total shots after halftime, with the Cardinals creating some movement and space but a handful of crosses just missing the mark/target of teammates in the box. Otterbein also won the corner-kick battle 7-0.

Schwertfager made three saves in her college debut while counterpart Emma St. John had four on the other side of the pitch.

Otterbein will be back in action this Sunday afternoon with a stiff road test at No. 12-ranked Case Western Reserve. First kick from Cleveland is slated for 1 p.m.