The Otterbein women’s soccer team took on Mount Union Tuesday afternoon at Clements Field in the first round of the OAC Tournament. Otterbein, the fourth seed, looked to get the win in order to move on to play number-one ranked Capital.
A slow start to the first half left the Cards tied 0-0, with an attempt by freshman equine veterinary technology major, Megan Dulle, missing high above the goal. Otterbein tallied only five shots on goal in the first half.
The Cards came out refueled in the second half inching closer and closer to being the first team to score as eight attempts came up short. But in the 77th minute, a cross kick from junior athletic training major Ali Stone set up Madison Burchfield, a freshman biochemistry and molecular biology major, for a header into the Purple Raider’s goal.
Mount would try to respond with attempts during the nine minutes remaining in play, but would ultimately fall short giving the Cards the win and the ticket to the next round.
“We just have to rest,” said Brandon Koons, Otterbein’s head coach. “This time of year every team that plays is a little banged up. Most of our practice tomorrow will be watching video instead of training just to let people recuperate.”
Otterbein will travel to Capital to take on the Crusaders this Thursday at 2 p.m.