WESTERVILLE, Ohio – A trio of different goal scorers helped the Otterbein women's soccer team keep a stranglehold on second place alone in the conference standings Wednesday night, departing Marietta with a comfortable 3-1 victory.

The Cardinals, winning by multiple goals for the 10th-straight time in the series, improve to 7-1-1 in OAC play with just one contest left in the regular season. Otterbein remains one full match ahead of Ohio Northern as the top-two teams will earn a bye in next week's six-team tournament.

FULL OAC STANDINGS

Otterbein also remains alive for a potential OAC regular-season title, although it would need to beat Mount Union this weekend coupled with John Carroll (7-0-1) either losing or drawing against Muskingum.

The Cardinals began the scoring at Marietta in the 18th minute after Lauren Alley sent a ball into the box from the left corner. Camryn Earl was there to get a back-heel kick while challenging a Pioneer defender, redirecting the ball back across her body and into the right side of the net.

The 1-0 score remained for nearly the next 45 minutes in bridging halftime before Otterbein doubled up midway through the second frame. A free kick from Earl hit off the crossbar and back into a crowded box, where Anjuli Anderson kept it alive with an initial touch before Bailey Zanella quickly cleaned things up with a 360-degree finish.

Marietta sliced that deficit in half with a goal of its own during the 73rd minute. However, the Cardinals tallied a key insurance goal down the stretch when Alley got herself in on another scoring play. Kesley Louderback won a 50/50 ball just over midfield that found the foot of Alley, who took a pair of dribbles before rocketing a left-footed shot from outside of the box and firmly home.

Otterbein finished with a 15-6 edge in total shots and attempted nine of the 11 corner kicks won on the night.

The Cardinals will have another night game to close out the regular season this Saturday, traveling up to Alliance for a matchup with Mount Union at 7 p.m.