The Otterbein University men’s soccer team moved one step closer to an Ohio Athletic Conference tournament birth with a 1-0 win over the Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets on senior day this past Saturday.
Otterbein improves to 10-7 and 3-4 in OAC play. Baldwin Wallace falls to 7-10-1 and 3-3-1 in the OAC.
The two teams battled hard in the first half, but the Cardinals edged out the Yellow Jackets, both in shots, 8-6, and goal saves, 4-3.
Despite this, the two teams went into halftime tied, 0-0.
Otterbein took the second half with a score to break the standstill.
In the 77th minute, senior forward Jared Pulliam drew a foul in the penalty area after driving in for a shot. Pulliam converted on the penalty kick, giving the Cardinals the 1-0 lead.
This was all Otterbein needed, as they held off Baldwin Wallace for the 1-0 victory.
Freshman goalkeeper Mack Stamper recorded seven saves for his third shutout of the season.
“It was a must-win game. We all knew it and we played like it,” junior forward Luis Rivas, who recorded three shots and one shot on goal, said. “That was a big three points for us in the OAC and we aren't stopping there. If we play like we did this weekend for the remainder of he season, we will find ourselves in the OAC tournament.”
The men’s soccer team travels to Marietta this Tuesday to take on the Pioneers of Marietta College. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
