Severance sisters
Sean Moreno
Twin sisters Priscilla and Regina Severance.
0
Ohio Northern ONU (8-1-2, 8-0-1)
1
Winner Otterbein OTT (10-0-1, 8-0-1)
Ohio Northern ONU
(8-1-2, 8-0-1)
0
Final
1
Otterbein OTT
(10-0-1, 8-0-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ohio Northern ONU 0 0 0
Otterbein OTT 0 1 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Written by Adam Prescott (Photo by Sean Moreno)

Final Destination! Late Goal Gives League Crown to OCWS

PHOTO GALLERY 

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Yet another classic showdown between women's soccer powers Otterbein and Ohio Northern went right to the wire yet again Sunday afternoon in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament Championship at Memorial Stadium.

In thrilling (and somewhat ironic) fashion for the veteran Cardinals, freshman Anjuli Anderson would play the role of hero in the 84th minute to give the home side a magical 1-0 triumph and cap its undefeated season.

Otterbein, which settled for a rather disappointing tie against ONU just over a week ago in the regular season, ends the unique spring schedule with a 10-0-1 record. The NCAA unfortunately canceled fall championships for this school year, so there is no automatic bid to the Big Dance this time around.

However, that didn't stop an energized Cardinal team from achieving its primary goal when the format was established. Sunday's triumph marks the second OAC Tournament crown for the program in the past three seasons, and seventh overall.

Head Coach Brandon Koons, already far and away the all-time winningest taskmaster in OAC women's soccer history, earned career win No. 300 in very fitting and deserving fashion. Not only were the stadium grandstands loud and energetic throughout, but more than 100 additional fans gathered outside of the gates to cheer on.

With both sides locked in a stalemate, Emily Ganz displayed nice footwork with possession early in the 84th and sent a perfect through pass to streaking Delaney Earl. She pushed forward before slipping a pass into the box, where a charging Anderson was there to bury it home. The sequence marked the first, and only, goal against ONU all season.

The Polar Bears finished with a slim 12-11 shot advantage, but Otterbein senior keeper Erin Gordon made a season-high six stops between the posts.

Ohio Northern, defending tournament champs after eluding Otterbein in double overtime last year in Ada, finishes with an 8-1-2 record after slipping past Capital in a semifinal shootout Thursday night. The Cards and Polar Bears have met in the final contest each of the last three years.

Otterbein finishes the season outscoring opponents 39-3 and sends off its decorated senior class of 11. The group helped compile a whopping 56-11-5 record since arrival.

Anderson, Ganz, Earl and Ashley Boy were named to the All-Tournament Team for their contributions both in the semifinal and championship rounds.
 
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