PHOTO GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – A stern defensive effort by the Cardinals translated to victory in their home opener at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night, holding off a pesky Trine squad by a final score of 8-5.

Otterbein (3-2) has now won three-straight games as a result, in what marked the first-ever matchup between the schools. Trine, coming off a pair of consecutive 9-5 seasons, now slips back to 3-4 with the loss.

KEY MOMENTS:

• Two goals were traded in the opening minute of the game, with Trine netting the first at the 14:13 mark before Otterbein answered immediately just 12 seconds later. Sam Becke won a faceoff, and Cayden Rohe scooped up the ground ball to dart in and finish.
   
• Nathan Lewis scored twice as the first quarter progressed and both squads then converted man-up goals bridging into the second frame. Otterbein's came from reigning OAC Offensive Player of the Week Dom Dean, who relayed a nice pass from Max Graham into the back of the net.
   
• That scored remained the same for a good five minutes, but Trine inched within 4-3 after a goal across the midway point of the frame. Dean got that tally back less than a minute later, and Otterbein soon carried a 5-3 cushion into the break.
   
• Otterbein created a bit more separation in the third, opening a 7-3 edge during a stretch in which it held Trine scoreless for over 22 minutes of game time. Trine finally ended its offensive drought with four seconds left in the third.
   
• Nobody scored for over eight minutes in a rugged fourth quarter, but freshman Jack Regruth registered a nice man-up goal at the 6:44 mark to effectively put the game out of reach.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Otterbein was a perfect 3 for 3 in extra-man opportunities on the night while Trine finished just 1 of 7.
   
• The Cardinals ended with a 46-29 advantage in total shots, but Trine stayed close behind an impressive 18 saves from goalie Nick DiPaolo.
   
• Cardinal junior Luke Farthing was nearly just as good on the other end, making 11 stops for the home side behind a stingy back line.
   
• Dean, Lewis, Regruth and Graham all churned out multi-point games for Otterbein, which also captured 9 of 15 faceoffs. Davis Tanaka was a crisp 3 of 3 in the second half.

 
UP NEXT:

Otterbein stays at home to conclude the week, hosting Adrian College on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. It will be the first game of a doubleheader with the women's program.