WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein men's lacrosse team found some difference-making efforts at critical times in the fourth quarter of its conference opener Saturday at Memorial Stadium, eluding a game Muskingum team down the stretch by a final score of 9-7.

The Cardinals, now having won all 10 matchups in the series history, were tied 6-6entering the final quarter before a decisive three-goal run helped create separation.

Muskingum falls back to 6-3 this spring while Otterbein gets back over the even mark at 4-3.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• Otterbein led 5-2 midway through the second quarter behind an early hat trick from Nathan Lewis, but the Muskies responded with four goal before halftime to take a 6-5 lead at the break.
   
• A tightly-contested, low-scoring third quarter only saw one goa mustered between the sides – as Carson Rainone finished a pass from Jack Regruth at the 5:40 mark.
   
• The Cardinals held Muskingum scoreless for roughly 27 minutes of game time, allowing the important run to begin the fourth quarter and generate too much of a gap…
   
• Dom Dean scored less than 90 seconds in the last frame, before he and Zach Mulligan both converted man-up goals during the middle portion to effectively put things away.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Muskies held a 51-36 overall shot advantage, but goalie Luke Farthing played hero with a career-high 20 saves.
   
• Otterbein won 11 of 19 faceoffs on the afternoon, including the duo of Max Graham and Sam Becker going 9 of 13. Cayden Rohe collected six ground balls.
   
• Lewis sparked the offense with five points while Mulligan added another three.
   
• Evan Cosgrove and Spencer Zechinni both scored twice for Muskingum, which got 14 saves from reigning OAC Defensive Player of the Week Trevor Connolly in goal.
   
• Otterbein's man-down unit killed four penalties on the day.