PHOTO GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It was a tight and highly-competitive matchup in the season opener for the Otterbein men's soccer team Friday evening, but the host Cardinals unfortunately settled on the low end of a 1-0 decision with Case Western Reserve.

THE BASICS:

• Both teams spent the first 15-plus minutes feeling one another out in the opener for both sides, until the Spartans eventually cracked through for what would be the difference maker.
   
• A throw-in up the left sideline was directed back from Lukas Dalakis to teammate Matt Vatne, who took one touch and then lofted a cross that mad its way through the box. Jacob Salmon was there to get a piece, redirect a shot back across his body and into the lower-left side of the goal.
   
• Otterbein turned up the offensive pressure in the second half, seeing a pair of chances for an equalizer with successive corner kicks in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, a shot by Jacob Irani was deflected away and Will Isaac's second look (off a short corner) was nicely saved.
   
• The desperate Cardinals pressed forward mightily in the closing minutes, roping off another pair of shots down the stretch but couldn't quite beat the buzzer.

STAT CHECK:

• Case Western finished with a marginal 11-9 edge in total shots.
   
• The back-and-forth affair featured 17 combined fouls.
   
• Casey Thompson made four important saves, including one at point-blank range to keep the Cardinals within a goal midway through the second frame.
   
• Otterbein saw its first look at multiple newcomers, rotating in seven subs off the bench while freshman Colm Oneacre and junior transfer Nick Isaac (brother of Will) earned their first college starts.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Cardinals have a quick 48-hour turnaround but will stay on campus, hosting Trine University come Sunday at 5 p.m.