PHOTOS

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinals refused to go quietly against the defending Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) champions in the league opener for both teams Saturday afternoon, but ultimately settled on the low side of a lengthy 24-12 result with Capital a very windy Memorial Stadium.

The Comets, fresh off a 20-1 season in which it made the NCAA second round, opened a sizeable lead by halftime until Otterbein came charging back to try and stay within striking distance.

WHAT WENT DOWN:

• Both sides traded goals in the early going, with a 3-3 deadlock on the board at the midway point of the first quarter. The Comets eventually found a groove to lead 8-3 by the first break.
   
• Capital stayed on the gas pedal throughout the second quarter, posting another eight goals to achieve a running clock and take a 16-5 advantage into halftime.
   
• Otterbein regrouped admirably at the intermission and wouldn't go down easy. The Cards held the visitors to just one goal in the third frame, while scoring five times themselves to stay within striking distance at just 17-10.
   
• Riley Smith would then score a third man-down goal in a row for Otterbein to commence the fourth quarter, but Capital regrouped by tallying the next four and keeping too much separation.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Otterbein, starting the day with no substitutes, competed at least one player down from midway through the third quarter and finished the game down multiple players.
   
• Smith, coming off a six-point outing at Franciscan, netted a career-high six goals to lead the Cardinals.
   
• Grace Osborn, recent IWLCA National Player of the Week, fired in 10 goals to spearhead Capital.
   
• The game saw a combined 20 free-position shots, and both teams converted over 50 percent of their chances.
   
• Capital won 24 of 40 draw controls on the day.
   
• NOTE: Ground balls will be added to the official box score in the coming days.
   

LOOKING AHEAD:

• The Cardinals have unfortunately canceled their non-conference game at Oberlin to begin next week, and will now return to action on the first day of April at Baldwin Wallace.