Box Score WESTERVILLE – The Otterbein University men's soccer team protected its home field Saturday afternoon, holding off Geneva College for a 3-2 non-conference victory at Memorial Stadium. 

The Cardinals wasted no time getting on the board, as senior Nick Isaac converted a penalty kick just 68 seconds into the match. Fellow senior Patrick Ahrens added to the early momentum, burying another penalty kick in the 18th minute to double the advantage. Otterbein carried the 2-0 lead into halftime after posting seven shots and seven corner kicks. 

Isaac struck again early in the second half, initially seeing his first attempt blocked before pouncing on the rebound and finishing from the right side to make it 3-0 in the 49th minute. Geneva responded quickly just 14 seconds later to trim the deficit, and then found the back of the net again in the 76th minute to pull within one. 

The Cardinals ultimately held firm down the stretch, with sophomore goalkeeper Jason Villalobos making five saves after the break to preserve the victory. Otterbein ended the afternoon with a 16-10 edge in total shots and a narrow 9-8 margin in shots on goal. 

Otterbein will be back in action next Wednesday, Sept. 17, hosting Denison in Memorial Stadium.