UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – My how the script was flipped on the women's lacrosse field for an emerging Otterbein squad on Wednesday night, as the Cardinals admirably shrugged off a heartbreaking defeat over the weekend (and then a slow start in this contest) for a huge OAC result.

The Cardinals erased a 10-3 deficit to work back and beat John Carroll for the first time in program history, shutting out the hosts in the final quarter to snap a 10-game skid in the all-time series.

Otterbein stood on top 14-12 by the time it was all said and done, with senior Carli Rigel becoming the program's new single-season record holder for most points. She officially passes recent standout Emily Willms and now currently holds 85 this spring.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• It was all Blue Streaks early as the Cardinals were still regrouping after a wild 13-12 outcome (at the buzzer) with Mount Union. JCU built an 8-2 lead after one quarter inside Don Shula Stadium and had all momentum.
   
• The Cardinals, striving to turn around narrow losses to John Carroll the past two years, began slowly making the climb back approaching halftime, lurking within 10-4 and feeling a bit of life..
   
• Otterbein began the third quarter on a three-goal run to creep even closer, although JCU responded with a pair and still ed 12-8 entering the fourth.
   
• The closing frame would be a lopsided eruption for Rigel and the Cardinals, who kept the home side scoreless over the final 17:44 of game time to fly back… and then some behind their senior leader.
   
• Rigel broke loose to score six in a row, the first coming at the end of the third and then five consecutive goals during the fourth (in less than six minutes) to completely turn the tables. Her last two rips, coming 19 seconds apart, helped take the lead for good and also move past Willms.
   
• Ava Robey converted a man-up goal shortly thereafter for some insurance, and neither team scored over the final six minutes as Otterbein escaped town with a gritty performance.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Rigel scored eight goals and Robey (3G, 4A) added another seven points atop the offensive column. Logan Fox tallied a hat trick herself as the only other Cardinal to register points.
   
• Otterbein finished with a 29-18 edge in total shots and was nearly perfect in clearing the ball, going 26 of 27 upfield.
   
• The Cardinals took full advantage on the free position by netting seven of nine opportunities.
   
• A testy and competitive game featured 14 infractions across the two sides, with nine combined yellow cards and another five green.
   
• Lauren Schwartz and Olivia Hanulak both netted three goals each on the home side.

 
TIME TO REGROUP:

• The Cardinals will now have a 10-day layoff to gather itself and shift focus to a massive game at cross-town rival Capital on April 20, with a potential OAC regular-season title and more on the line.