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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein men's soccer team put a nice exclamation mark on non-conference play Wednesday evening, using a flurry to kickstart the second half and turning back Denison (3-0) in a key regional showdown at Memorial Stadium.

SETTING THE STAGE:

Both teams, eventually going on to make the NCAA Tournament, played to an earlier 1-1 deadlock in Granville almost exactly one year ago on September 29. The Big Red scored in the 26th minute but Silver Abraham netted a massive equalizer for the Cards (assisted by Drew Holman) with under four minutes left in regulation.

THIS TIME AROUND:

• Both sides played to a scoreless first half that saw just four total shots, all attempted by the Cardinals. The second half quickly saw a wild sequence of goals that would absolutely stun the visitors, as Otterbein scored three times in a four-minute span to seize the day.
   
• The Cards took the lead for good in the 54th minute after Coby Stover sent an initial cross into the box. Gabe Sharrock found himself challenged by the Denison keeper, only for the ball to pop loose from his fingertips and trickle toward the feet of Will Isaac. The All-American gathered one touch to his immediate right and blasted a shot back across his body, and in between a pair of defenders guarding the net.
   
• Just over two minutes later, freshman Jacob Irani dispossessed a Denison midfielder and found a sprinting Gabe Sharrock with a crisp through ball. Sharrock remain onside and wasted no time burying a shot past the keeper… doubling up the lead.
   
• Then, 68 seconds later, the floodgates officially opened. Freshman Mitchell Patterson sent the first ball into a crowded box, where Sharrock and Nathan Neal both helped keep the play alive before Holman (with a little breathing room) swung his right foot through to hit the net.
   
• Denison did manage five shots after intermission but to no avail, as the Cards posted their third shutout of the season.

 
STAT CHECK:

• Otterbein finished with a 9-5 shot advantage but clearly made its attempts count the most, and also held a 9-4 margin on corner kicks.
   
• Both goalkeepers made just one save in a match that saw 20 combined fouls, with Denison being whistled for 14.
   
• The Big Red went deep into their bench as 10 subs entered at one point or another. Tommy Prokos began in goal but was relieved by Zach Barr in the 61st minute.

 
SERIES HISTORY:

Otterbein has now gone 4-0-1 in the last five matchups between these schools, with Denison's last victory coming in Granville during the 2013 campaign.
 
UP NEXT:

The Cards will only enjoy this victory for a brief while as cross-town rival Capital looms on deck. Otterbein will begin conference play in the Roush Auto Rivalry Showdown come Saturday, traveling to Bexley for a kick at 1 p.m.