Men's soccer heads to Hampden-Sydney for NCAA First Round match

The Cardinals will play the host Tigers on Saturday. Otterbein is the No. 3 seed in the pod with H-SC as the No. 2.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – For the third consecutive season and the 10th time in program history, the Otterbein University men's soccer team is going dancing. Since the OAC Men's Soccer Tournament's inception in 1992, the Cardinals have won eight titles.

After defeating No. 24 Ohio Northern 0-0 (5-4 PKs) in the OAC Tournament Championship game, the Cardinals earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Otterbein will head to No. 23 Hampden-Sydney College on Saturday Nov. 15 to face off against the host Tigers in the NCAA First Round game. Joining them in the H-SC pod in the first game Saturday are Maryville (TN) and No. 6 Emory.

SCOUTING OTTERBEIN (11-2-6): Otterbein is led by the OAC Freshman of the Year, Lincoln Wallace. Wallace leads the team with 13 goals and 30points. He delivered the winning penalty kick in Sunday's shootout, vaulting Otterbein to its second straight OAC Tournament title. Nick Isaac, Xavier Stocks and Patrick Ahrens have proven to be threats offensively, while senior Drew Boettcher has been playing tremendous on both sides of the ball as of late.

Nate Erre and Alex Greene lead a back line featuring Jacob Irani and Eli Traber. Over the squad's last nine games, Otterbein has conceded just three goals. Freshman goalkeeper Jayden Burdine has thrived after taking over in goal. With a 3-0-1 record, he tallied seven saves – each more remarkable than the next – in Sunday's match at ONU.

SCOUTING HAMPDEN-SYDNEY (13-3-2, 6-1-2 ODAC): H-SC earned a coveted at-large bid after falling in the ODAC Championship match, 2-0 to Washington & Lee. The Tigers are one of three ODAC schools to advance to the national tournament, along with W&L and Lynchburg.

A balanced attack has led the Tigers all season, with five players recording between 10 and 12 points. Junior Tyler Petz's nine assists are a team-best, while Walker Stebbings and Mason Dudley lead the way with five goals apiece. The match will feature two freshmen goalkeepers, as Stig Larson has played every minute this season for Hampden-Sydney, notching 42 saves.

Both the Cardinals and H-SC are tied for 45th nationally in goal differential (25). Otterbein has netted 46 goals while allowing 21. The Tigers have allowed just 15 while scoring 40.

Prior to Otterbein's game, Maryville and Emory will kick off at 1 p.m. The winners of each game will play each other at 3 p.m. on Sunday with a trip to the Third Round on the line.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#25 Patrick Ahrens: D; 5' 10"; Senior

#10 Drew Boettcher: M; 5' 9"; Senior; Cincinnati United Premier

#8 Jacob Irani: D; 5' 10"; Senior

#7 Nick Isaac: F; 5' 9"; Senior; Ohio Premier and Crew Academy

#0 Jayden Burdine: GK; Freshman; Ohio Premier

#2 Eli Traber: D; Freshman; Club Ohio

#4 Nate Erre: D; Graduate Student

#9 Xavier Stocks: F; Freshman

#12 Lincoln Wallace: F; Freshman

#18 Alex Greene: M; Junior

Players Mentioned

#25 Patrick Ahrens
: 5' 10"; Senior
: D

#10 Drew Boettcher
: 5' 9"; Senior; Cincinnati United Premier
: M

#8 Jacob Irani
: 5' 10"; Senior
: D

#7 Nick Isaac
: 5' 9"; Senior; Ohio Premier and Crew Academy
: F

#0 Jayden Burdine
: Freshman; Ohio Premier
: GK

#2 Eli Traber
: Freshman; Club Ohio
: D

#4 Nate Erre
: Graduate Student
: D

#9 Xavier Stocks
: Freshman
: F

#12 Lincoln Wallace
: Freshman
: F

#18 Alex Greene
: Junior
: M