PHOTO GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It was a dominant win for the Otterbein women's soccer team in the season opener Friday night at Memorial Stadium, as the Cardinals took control early and never looked back in a 6-1 trouncing of Bluffton.

Five of those six goals were tallied by Anjuli Anderson (hat trick) and Cami McCulty (two-score effort), guided by plenty of other teammates in what became a true group effort. Nearly the entire roster was able to see the field and gain footing to begin September.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Cardinals almost scored in the opening minute, but took the lead shortly thereafter when Morgan Somers headed in a corner kick from Anderson.
   
• Despite the PA announcer accidentally skipping over her while introducing the starting lineup, Anderson remained locked in and doubled up the home lead less than four minutes later. She took a pass from Camryn Earl on the end-line and buried it home.
   
• Cami McCulty scored her first-career goal in the 35th minute, finding a loose ball in the box after a few other players collided in a challenge and pushed it home. Otterbein took that 3-0 lead into halftime.
   
• Somers connected with her classmate Anderson just over three minutes into the second frame, and Anderson solidified the hat trick by taking another nice cross to redirect across her body and off a Bluffton defender.
   
• The Beavers hit the scoreboard on a breakaway sequence in the 69th minute, but McCulty made sure to give the exclamation point to her squad by working hard for another tally late. She charged into the box, saw her first shot saved by the keeper, but quickly followed up with a rebound.

STAT CHECK:

• Otterbein posted a whopping 41-3 shot advantage, with 23 of those being on frame.
   
• The Cardinals also held a 13-0 edge in corner kicks.
   
• Brielle Collier was forced to make 17 saves in the Bluffton net while under pressure most of the night.
   
• Caitlin Drew went the initial 45 minutes in goal for Otterbein before newcomer Isabella Neal came on to play the second half.

UP NEXT:

• The Cards will remain at home following Labor Day Weekend, hosting Trine University come Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m.