MISENHEIMER, N.C. – The Otterbein men's lacrosse team settled for a split to culminate its spring break trip Thursday afternoon, falling victim to host and undefeated Pfeiffer University by a final count of 15-9.

The Cardinals will now have almost a full week off to regroup, returning home to Ohio and eventually traveling to nearby Wittenberg next Wednesday (3/15) for another non-conference matchup.

Pfeiffer improves to 6-0 this spring after Otterbein played them closer than any opponent has this season, as the Falcons entered having won the last four comfortably by double digits.

NOTABLE STRETCHES:

• Otterbein started off with a bang, leading 3-0 midway through the first quarter on goals by Nathan Lewis, Cole Werbrich and Ty Forney (who also assisted the initial score).
   
• The Cardinals then led 5-3 as halftime approached, but a three-goal run by the hosts in a span of just 80 seconds allowed Pfeiffer to take a 6-5 lead into the break.
   
• Pfeiffer capitalized on that momentum with a huge third quarter, posting a 7-0 run to begin the frame (capped on a pair of man-up scores) to blow the doors open.
   
• Carson Rainone played a role in two Otterbein goals that stopped the bleed, and Aidan Moore converted an extra-man opportunity very early in the fourth to keep the Cards within 13-8.
   
• Unfortunately, Pfeiffer's Trevor King responded with consecutive goals shortly thereafter to effectively put the game away.
   

STAT CHECK:

• The physical contest saw each time draw six flags for five-plus minutes of penalty time.
   
• Otterbein actually held a 38-36 edge in total shots, but Pfeiffer goalie Nate Woodhill made double-digit saves.
   
• The Falcons dominated the faceoff X by claiming 22 of 26 chances behind Tucker Hill, who scooped 10 ground balls in that process.
   
• Both sides combined to go just 3 of 12 on extra-man opportunities.
   
• Werbrich had a four-point day to lead the Cardinal offense.