SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Otterbein women's lacrosse team got back into the win column after a tough weekend, keeping host Wittenberg at arm's length through its first road game of the young season Wednesday night.

The game was tied 1-1 after a low-scoring first quarter, which saw a lightning delay and forced the game to be played inside Wittenberg's indoor facility. Otterbein (2-1) took the lead for good in the second frame and never trailed the entire night.

NOTABLE TAKEAWAYS:

• The Cardinals beat Wittenberg for a second-straight meeting after also winning 14-9 back during the spring of 2020, just prior to the COVID shutdown.
   
• Senior Lauren Newkirk had a hand in four of Otterbein's initial five goals, assisting classmate Emily Willms on the first and then scoring herself three times in the second period.
   
• Otterbein led 5-2 at the break and rode Willms the rest of the way. The veteran scored all five Cardinal goals from that point forward to help leave little doubt in the outcome.

STAT CHECK:

• The Cards held a 26-16 overall shot advantage and were successful on all but two of their 31 clear attempts.
   
• Maggie Nance and the defense shut out Wittenberg on the free-position attempt, blanking the Tigers at 0 for 8.
   
• Willms netted seven goals on the night and now ties current assistant coach Abby Smoot for fourth on the program's all-time scoring list at 168 points.

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Otterbein will play two games down in Florida over spring break, taking on Piedmont for a neutral-site game in Davenport before visiting NAIA Warner a few days later.