WESTERVILLE, Ohio - Otterbein collected four goals against the Terriers to line up four-straight wins Tuesday night. An early score in the first half started the Cards in the right direction, and another three after intermission finalized the convincing victory inside Memorial Stadium to finish out non-conference play on a high note. This is also the fourth year in a row the Cardinals have bested the Terriers.
PLENTY OF OPTIONS:
Otterbein continues to show strength in scoring all around the offense, having seven different Cardinals score over the past four matches.
Gillian Losey and
Ava Bruns continue showing up in the box score with three each over the past four contests.
Anjuli Anderson has scored two of her own wile the other finishers include
Bailey Zanella,
Lauren Alley,
Mackenzie Peeke and
Morgan Somers.
HOLDING STRONG:
The Cardinal defense has also continued to hold down the fort, boasting three shutouts over the past four games and allowing just one goal in the process over those 360 minutes.
PLACING THE PIECES:
- The Cardinals put their first piece on the board not even two minutes into the night. Somers played a long pass towards the far-side corner to Anderson, who chased the ball down and attempted a cross that deflected off a Hiram defender. Quickly finding her foot to the ball again, Anderson played a pass to the middle (that split two Terriers) and left Somers to finish the job with a one-touch shot that flew just out of reach of Skyler Huda's hands.
- After holding steady for the remainder of the first half, the Cards started to put the pressure on after intermission. Anderson found herself with the ball in front of multiple Hiram defenders near the 18-yard box. After working her way around the board she opened up just enough to fire a shot that proved too difficult for the Terriers to defend.
- The strategy was in motion and, in similar fashion, Ava Bruns found herself taking on multiple defenders in Hiram territory during the 56th minute. After shaking off the opposition, Bruns took her shot and perfectly placed the ball in the upper-right corner of the net. The Cardinals were shy just one goal with over 30 minutes left to connect all four dots...
- That final piece was placed on the board during the 65th minute thanks to combined efforts of Anderson and Bruns. Anderson attempted a shot this time around but was blocked at the last second, leading the ball to fly high towards the net. Huda attempted to grasp the ball as it fell down but, at the same time, Bruns took her turn. Determined to find the back of the net again, Bruns pushed past Huda and laid down the fourth and final goal of the night.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Otterbein managed 24 total shots on the night, landing 14 on frame, while Hiram earned a total of seven and only succeeded at placing three on goal.
- The Cardinals took all four corner kicks and hold a combined 13-1 edge in the category over the past two matches.
- Huda reached double-digits saves in the visitor net, having to work hard throughout the contest to prevent 10 on-frame shots from going in.
- Ella Schwertfager worked in goal for the first half for the Cardinals but did not have to make any saves. Catlin Drew and Drew Ultican shared the role of protecting Otterbein's net during the second half, with Drew stopping one and Ultican having her first two career saves as a Cardinal.
UP NEXT:
The Cardinals will remain at home this weekend and stride toward Ohio Athletic Conference play, hosting Capital for the Roush Auto Rivalry Showdown at Memorial Stadium come Saturday night at 7 p.m. Otterbein has won five of the last six matchups in the cross-town series, with the last two coming by a narrow 1-0 margin.
