SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – A pair of late goals by host Wittenberg ended up being the slight difference in a tight non-conference showdown Wednesday afternoon just west of campus, as the Tigers manufactured two scores down the stretch for a 9-7 victory.

The contest, delayed roughly 45 minutes after the Otterbein bus ran into mechanical issues, saw Wittenberg snap a four-game skid in the series. The Cardinals won 14-10 last year and 9-8 (overtime) in the prior matchup.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• Both sides traded goals early… seeing ties at 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3 near the end of the first half.
   
• Otterbein took advantage of Wittenberg penalties bridging the halftime break. Nick Clay found Nathan Lewis for a man-up goal with 1:34 left before intermission, and then converted another himself early in the second half for a 5-3 Cardinal advantage.
   
• The Tigers countered from that point with a three-goal run before Otterbein found equalizers from Aidan Moore (6-6) and Cole Werbrich (7-7) to knot the game back up.
   
• Nathan Brown put Witt ahead 8-7 midway through the fourth, and both sides had chances down the stretch.
   
• Wittenberg converted a huge double-up with a free possession after two flags against Otterbein were thrown. The play-on saw an initial shot saved by Luke Farthing, but promptly rebounded by Tiger freshman Dillon McKeigue and fired right back home with just 3:22 left.
   
• Carson Rainone, fresh off a six-point week on spring break, had a shot with 90 seconds remaining that sailed high and Wittenerg eventually held on.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Clay had two goals and two assists in tying for a game-best four points. Moore also scored twice on a team-high seven shots.
   
• Kyle Gould led Wittenberg with four goals on a whopping 14 shots.
   
• Both sides went 10 of 20 on faceoff chances, with Eddie McDonald taking/claiming all for Otterbein en route to eight ground balls.
   
• The Cards were 2 for 3 on extra-man opportunities while thwarting the only chance Wittenberg had, coming in the fourth quarter. Farthing made 14 saves across the full contest.

IT'S THE WEEKEND:

Otterbein will look to shed the tough outcome this weekend up north, getting back on the road and traveling almost three hours up to play Adrian College. Opening faceoff is now scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.