Rudibaugh, Knox Headline Award Recipients at Annual Banquet
Written Feb. 9, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Forward Lindsey Rudibaugh and defender Jenny Knox took home Most Valuable Player honors from the annual women’s soccer awards banquet, held Sunday in the Otterbein Campus Center.

Rudibaugh, a sophomore from Columbus (Dublin Coffman High School), was named the Cardinals Offensive MVP by leading the team and ranking fourth in the Ohio Athletic Conference with 22 total points (ten goals, two assists) this past season. Rudibaugh scored six of her goals in the team’s last six games of the regular season, and led the team with 32 shots on goal. She was named to the All-OAC first team as well as the All-Great Lakes Region first team.

Knox, a sophomore from Gahanna (Bishop Hartley High School), earned Defensive MVP honors by leading a Cardinal defense that finished 11^th in the nation in goals-against average (0.45) and 20^th in shutout percentage (.636). Knox tallied four goals and one assist this past fall and was also named to the All-Conference first team and All-Great Lakes Region first team. In addition, she became just the fourth Otterbein women’s soccer player to earn All-America status.

Both Rudibaugh and Knox were two of just three Otterbein players to start all 22 contests this season.

In addition to Rudibaugh and Knox, other players receiving special honors were: forward Megan Cooper, Most Improved Player; forward Lauren Capelle, Performance of the Year; and midfielder Rachel Degen, Goal of the Year. The five members of the senior class were also honored with the Coaches Award for their constant leadership, work rate, positive influence, and contributions.

Cooper, a junior from London (Jonathan Alder High School), tied for sixth on the team in points (four goals, two assists) in addition to scoring the game-winning goal in the Cardinal’s opening match of the year at Kenyon.

Capelle, a senior from Fairfield (Fairfield High School), earned the “Performance of the Year” Award by recording a hat trick (three goals) and tallying seven total points in a come from behind 5-3 victory over Ohio Wesleyan. A two-time OAC Player of the Week this past season, Capelle finished third on the team with 12 total points, including one game-winner.

Degen, a sophomore from Columbus (Dublin Scioto High School), was chosen as the recipient for the “Goal of the Year” Award by scoring the game-winning goal against Denison in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A bomb from nearly 30 yards out, the goal sent the Cards to the Round of 16 in the national tournament. Degen tied for fourth on the team with 11 points (3 goals, give assists) and also recorded the game-winning goal in the conference tournament championship game vs. Ohio Northern. The Dublin native finished the year tied for fourth in the OAC in assists.

Capelle and fellow seniors Cara Gale, Natalie Harper, Julie Kathman, and Kate Weale were honored as a group with the Coach’s Award, recognizing the departing players for the many contributions and positive influences they had on the women’s soccer program throughout their four years as student-athletes.

The Cards earned their highest national ranking in school history this past season, finishing seventh in the final national poll.
 

Knox Earns All-America Selection
Written Dec. 8, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OH – Otterbein sophomore defender Jenny Knox (Gahanna/Bishop Hartley) was named to the 2008 NSCAA/adidas Women's NCAA Division III All-America third team, released this past weekend by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Knox, a two-year starter at defender, helped the Cardinals reach the NCAA Round of 16 this fall for the second time in program history. In addition, the 18 wins by the group was the second-best single season total ever achieved within the program. A first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and All-Great Lakes Region selection, Knox also helped guide Otterbein to their third OAC regular season title in the last seven years, as well as the third conference tournament championship in the last five. Of the ten goals allowed this season by the Cards, only three came in conference play.

While Knox admitted it was a big shock to her when notified of the special accolade, her coach had a much different reaction.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” said Cardinal Head Coach Brandon Koons. “I’ve known her for a few years now and I’ve always thought very highly of her. A lot of things had to fall into place, but she has great teammates around her and she did a great job in working with everyone. She definitely deserves the credit.”

To be selected as one of the top 34 Division III players in the country is, to say the least, quite a special feeling for the Gahanna native.

“I feel honored to represent my team, my coach, and Otterbein College as a women’s soccer player,” Knox said. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t work half as hard or play with as much passion as I do. It’s exciting to receive such a great honor, and it’s one I’ll carry proudly the rest of my life.”

One of only four sophomores selected as All-America, (all others were of junior or senior status), Knox has shown abilities and demonstrated leadership qualities well beyond her years.

“Her importance in the contributions she’s made has little to do with her being young, but it’s exciting to think she’s only a sophomore because she will be back the next two years,” Koons said. “Jenny came back this season much more fit. She was stronger, quicker, and also possessed a lot more confidence. We didn’t allow a lot of goals this season and other teams didn’t have many dangerous chances because the organization she had stopped things before they ever got too bad.”

At the end of her freshman season, Knox was informed that three of the discs in her back were fused together. Not being able to run, she was forced to miss all but the last two sessions of spring training. Instead of panicking, she used 15 weeks of physical therapy as a way to get in shape and return to dominance as a player in the air, a quality the coaches had seen while recruiting Knox but also one she had failed to show during her first season in Westerville.

“I came back this season more fit than I have ever been in my entire life,” explained Knox. “Realizing my ability to do what coach asked of me increased my confidence as a central defender and led to an overall great season.”

In addition to scoring four goals and tallying two assists this season, Knox was part of a defensive unit that finished the season ranked 11th nationally in goals against average (0.45). In addition, the team held opponents scoreless in 14 of 22 matches, ranking them 20th in the country in shutout percentage (.636). However, when you see those rankings listed on the NCAA website, they fall under team statistics, not individual.

“It would have been impossible for me to receive this honor without my teammates,” said Knox. “Everyone worked together to have the exceptional season that we had. From the beginning of preseason to the end in New York, the team had a chemistry that I think is rare to find, hard to discover, and special to have.”

According to Knox, who was also named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team earlier this season, it’s been easier to succeed in the environment that she and her peers have created.

“I think the great atmosphere of the team this season gave me confidence and allowed me to find my niche on the field,” she said. “The support of my teammates made it easy to get excited for games and to just love playing.”

With the honor, Knox becomes the fourth Otterbein women’s soccer player to be named as an All-American and the 12th from the OAC. The four All-Americans that Otterbein now boasts is tied for the most in the conference with Heidelberg.
 

Sophomore Trio Selected to Great Lakes All-Region Team
Written Dec. 10, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVVILLE, OH – The sophomore trio of defender Jenny Knox, forward Lindsey Rudibaugh, and midfielder Rachel Degen earned spots on the 2008 NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Division III women’s soccer team, announced yesterday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Knox and Rudibaugh were named First-Team All-Region while Degen was selected to the second team.

Knox (Gahanna/Bishop Hartley) tallied four goals and two assists this season and led an Otterbein defense that ranked in the top 20 nationally in both goals against average (0.45) and shutout percentage (.636). She was one of three players to start all 22 contests in 2008 and was recently named Third-Team All-America by the NSCAA.

Rudibaugh (Dublin/Coffman) led the Cardinals in scoring and finished fourth in the Ohio Athletic Conference this season with 22 points (ten goals/two assists), including three game-winners. She also started all 22 matches this fall.

Degen (Dublin/Scioto) recorded three goals and five assists this season (11 points), including game-winning goals in both the OAC tournament championship game and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She finished tied for fourth in the OAC in assists and eighth in assists per game.

Overall, the team earned their highest national ranking in program history by finishing seventh in the NSCAA/adidas final poll. The 2005 team that advanced to the Sweet 16 finished tenth in the final rankings.  

“It’s a wonderful honor for our team and the OAC as a whole,” said Head Coach Brandon Koons.

Click here to view the final national rankings.
 

Cardinals Place Four on Academic All-OAC First Team
Written Nov. 24, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO –Senior Julie Kathman, junior Carly Dent, and sophomores Jenny Knox and Tara Carter have all been named to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference Academic First Team, announced the conference office last week.

Kathman, a three-year starting defender from Greenville, had one assist on the season and helped lead a defensive unit that totaled 14 shutouts. An Organizational Communications major, she has appeared on the Otterbein Dean’s List all nine quarters. Kathman was named Honorable Mention Academic All-OAC in 2007.

Dent, a three-year starting midfielder from Pataskala (Watkins Memorial High School), finished the season with one goal and three assists. A Life Science major, she has made the Otterbein Dean’s List six times and was also named to the Academic All-OAC Honorable Mention team in 2007.

Knox, a two-year starting defender from Gahanna (Bishop Hartley High School), tallied four goals and two assists this fall and teamed with Kathman to spearhead a defensive unit that was the best in the conference. An Allied Health major, she has made the Dean’s List all three quarters.

Carter, a second year goalkeeper from Pickerington (Pickerington North High School), posted 14 shutouts this season and stopped 66 shots between the pipes. She boasted an .868 save percentage as well as a 0.45 goals against average, a mark good enough to rank her in the top 20 nationally. A double major in art and art history, she has made the Dean’s List three times.

The Cardinals competed in the NCAA Round of 16 this past weekend where they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Amherst College. The squad became the second team in program history to advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
 

Cards Fall to Amherst in Round of 16
Written Nov. 22, 2008 by Adam Prescott

GENEVA, N.Y.—#16 Otterbein (18-2-2) fell to #9 Amherst (14-2-3) by a score of 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament Round of 16.

Otterbein had an early chance when sophomore forward Lindsey Rudibaugh sent a cross into the box just five minutes into the match, but a sliding Sarah Sharbaugh was unable to get a foot on it.

Amherst then took a 1-0 lead when Kyla Woodhouse took a lead pass and slipped it past Otterbein goalie Tara Carter in the 18th minute.

Otterbein was unable to convert on a couple of corner kick opportunities throughout the remainder of the first half as the Lord Jeffs took a 1-0 lead into the break.

The Cards had another chance with 22:30 remaining in the contest when the Amherst goalie fell in the box, but sophomore Rachel Degen had her shot blocked by an opposing defender.

Unfortunately, Otterbein was unable to find a way to score the rest of the way as they suffered their second loss of the season and were eliminated from the tournament.

Amherst held a 14-10 shot advantage while Otterbein held a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

Carter tallied eight saves while Lord Jeff keepers Allie Horwitz, Lili Ferguson, and the Amherst defense combined for five.

Amherst will move on to play host William Smith in tomorrow’s Elite Eight match while Otterbein concludes its season with an 18-2-2 record.

Cards Well Prepared, Ready for Weekend Ahead
Written Nov. 19, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – As the Otterbein women’s soccer team gears up to play in the Sweet 16 this coming weekend, they know the experience of competing in a variety of situations will come in handy. This season, the team has played a significant amount of games with a lead, they have battled while locked in a tie, and they have played from behind. They have taken the field in both good and bad weather. They have won games at home, on the road, and at neutral sites.

Every player on the roster, regardless of class rank, appears to have developed a sense of familiarity with the game atmosphere and has been able to play with poise when placed in different situations. Head Coach Brandon Koons has obviously worked hard to prepare his team to deal with multiple scenarios.

“Coach has done a great job preparing our team this year,” said sophomore defender Jenny Knox. “From the beginning of camp until now, he’s been great to play for because he understands the game so well and brings such a strategic approach. We have great communication and he’s very reciprocal with us about what we want to do in certain matches.”

This season to remember has been made possible by all players being on the same page and knowing the importance of one another. Rallying together allowed the Cardinals to win this past weekend in dramatic fashion. Freshman Adrienne Novak scored what may have been the goal of the year to this point by knocking in a shot with just seconds left in regulation in the team’s opening round match.

“Adrienne is just that player who is so surprisingly clutch in those big games,” said goalkeeper Tara Carter. “She scored a goal at Mount Union earlier in the season with seven seconds left in the first half that ended up sealing the game. It was also great for her individually because a lot of her family was in attendance this weekend.”

Novak also scored the game’s second goal against Denison on Sunday, but the shot of the weekend and the goal that advanced Otterbein to this weekend’s Round of 16 was a bomb from over 30 yards out by sophomore Rachel Degen.

“Rachel is the snake of our team,” Carter explained. “She always finds a way to get that goal that nobody expects or do something that completely surprises everybody. All three goals she has scored this year, which have all been from over 30 yards out, have been the most ridiculous goals I have ever seen.”

Even Carter, who has not had to face an abundance of shots this season due to the effective Cardinal defense, was forced to perform under pressure on Sunday when Denison came charging hard in the second half in an attempt to climb back into the contest. With the Big Red firing shots in her direction, Carter joked about how many minutes were played on Otterbein’s side of midfield.

“I don’t like playing on our half of the field,” she said. “I would much rather watch us at the opposite end scoring goals. However, when the ball is at the other end I still have to mentally prepare. It’s exciting when I am part of the action and making big saves because it makes me feel good - but I still like it a lot better sitting back and watching.”

If anyone thinks the only laughter shared this season was by Carter in her interview, they better think again. Fans who arrive at games early enough to watch warm-ups may wonder if the team ever gets nervous, as it is always possible to spot more than one player vigorously dancing to the pre-game music.

“I think players get nervous, but people also tend to laugh when they are nervous,” Knox said. “We are just so comfortable this year that we let that stuff go. We try our best not to think about the game too much until right before hand.”

While the team may have their funny side and enjoys a good laugh, they also are very committed to winning and have developed the mindset that losing is not an option.

“I think at this point it’s a great attitude because anyone can win at this stage of the tournament,” said Knox. “When you look at who’s played who and who’s beaten who, it’s all up in the air right now and it’s really exciting to be a part of. At this point we have to tell ourselves that we’re not just happy to be here, we want to win. That’s what we’re ready to do and I think we’ll be up to the challenge this weekend.”

Whatever happens this weekend, many will still debate if this team is better than the team in 2005 that won a school-record 20 games and reached the Round of 16, where they lost to Denison in penalty kicks. A crucial member of that club was defender Lauren Thompson, who went on to earn All-American status in 2006 and is currently a graduate assistant coach for the team. She has had an up-close look at this year’s talented bunch.

“The two teams are very comparable,” Thompson said. “It’s hard to sit down and say this team is better for this reason and the other team is better because of this reason. Both teams showed dedication, had good team chemistry, and played for everyone else on the team.”

Fans of this year’s team will be hoping for a different outcome than the one in 2005. No matter what happens, one thing is for sure – the squad will be well prepared and ready to go come first kick Saturday.
 

Otterbein to Battle Amherst (MA) in Round of 16
Written Nov. 17, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein (18-1-2) will travel to William Smith College in Geneva, New York to play Amherst College (MA) (13-2-3) on Saturday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III women’s soccer tournament.

Otterbein plays Amherst at 1:30 p.m. in the second of two games on Saturday. Johns Hopkins will take on host William Smith in the first match, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

Amherst, ranked ninth in the country, advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating Farmingdale State 4-0 in the first round and host Springfield 3-0 in the second round. The Lord Jeffs, who earned an at-large bid to the tournament out of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), are another opponent the Cards will be facing for the first time.

“We are doing all of our homework right now, but until we are ten minutes into the game I really won’t know what they’re like,” explained Head Coach Brandon Koons.

The Cardinals earned a spot in the Round of 16 by defeating Penn State Altoona 1-0 in the opening round on Saturday, and then turned around on Sunday to claim a 2-0 victory over Denison. Not only did three other schools come to Westerville to compete in the tournament, but mother nature also made an appearance. In addition to battling Altoona, the Cards dealt with heavy rain, harsh winds, and cold temperatures on the opening day of action.

“It was very difficult to play good soccer on a day like Saturday,” said Head Coach Brandon Koons. “I wish we could play Altoona on a good surface on a good day just to see how different it would be.”

The two players who faced the biggest challenges during Saturday’s match may have been both goalkeepers.

“The elements were horrible,” explained sophomore goalie Tara Carter. “The wind and rain began to pick up in the second half and there were times where I had to close my eyes because they were hurting from the rain. There was a lot of pressure to stay in the game mentally because if anyone were to get through on our half of the field I am the last line of defense and expected to make a save.”

After battling in a scoreless tie for basically the entire game on Saturday, Otterbein found themselves up 2-0 against Denison at the break on Sunday. For a team that has successfully made adjustments during intermission this season, the weekend presented them with two very different outlooks heading into the second half.  

“We felt we had the better of the chances in the first half Saturday, so we told the team to keep doing what they were doing,” Koons said. “Being up 2-0 at the half against Denison, we changed our formation and style of play drastically because we knew the strong wind was going to be a factor in the second half.”

The team will leave Friday morning and make the seven hour bus trip to New York to try and take the next step in the tournament.

“Going on the road will definitely be a challenge,” Carter said. “However, once we’re together as a group, playing as a team and even eating as an entire team it starts to feel like home. I think we will just take that mindset with us to get comfortable and win games."

General admission tickets for the game are $6. Students and senior citizens will be admitted for $3 while tickets for children ages 3-12 are $2.
 

Cardinals Use Two First Half Goals to Advance to Sweet 16
Written Nov. 16, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO - #16 Otterbein (18-1-2) defeated #19 Denison (15-5-1) by a score of 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Clements Field in the second round of the NCAA Division III women’s soccer tournament.

The Cardinals grabbed an early 1-0 lead when sophomore midfielder Rachel Degen buried a shot from 30 yards out in the 13th minute.

Freshman forward Adrienne Novak then extended the Otterbein lead to 2-0 when she maneuvered her way through Denison defenders and scored at the 30:50 mark. This marked Novak’s second goal in as many contests, as she recorded the game winner in Otterbein’s 1-0 first round victory over Penn State Altoona.

Neither team scored the remainder of the half as the Cards went into the break holding a 2-0 advantage.

Denison did their best to climb back into the match in the second half, but the Otterbein defense proved too strong as the Big Red were unable to slip a shot past Cardinal goalkeeper Tara Carter.

Denison held a 10-6 shot advantage while both teams attempted five corner kicks.

Carter turned in solid performance between the posts by tallying six saves, while Denison goalie Courtney Cobb did not have any.

With the victory, Otterbein advances to play in the Round of 16 against Amherst College (MA), who defeated Springfield (MA) by a score of 3-0 in their second round contest. The match is scheduled for Saturday with the site to be determined.
 

Novak's Late Goal Lifts Otterbein Past Penn State Altoona
Written Nov. 15, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – #16 Otterbein (17-1-2) defeated Penn State Altoona (17-1-2) by a score of 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Clements Field.

Strong defensive play and mother nature played roles in the first half as neither team was able to find the back of the net. The Cards out-shot Altoona 8-1 in the half but were unable to convert any chances. Otterbein’s best scoring opportunity came at the 26:12 mark of the period when sophomore midfielder Rachel Degen saw her shot bounce off the top crossbar.

With the rain coming down heavier and the winds gusting faster, both teams fought and scrapped for a chance to put the ball in the back of the net in the second half. The game appeared to be heading to overtime until sophomore midfielder Tara Smith found freshman forward Adrienne Novak amongst a cluster of players in the box. Novak turned and fired a shot past the Altoona goalkeeper for the game-winning score with just 51 seconds left.

The Cardinals held a 14-4 shot advantage as well as a 5-4 edge on corner kicks.

Otterbein sophomore keeper Tara Carter tallied one save while Lindsey Raspanti stopped three shots between the pipes for the Lions.

With the victory, Otterbein advances to tomorrow’s second round match against Denison University, who claimed a 1-0 victory over Centre (KY) in the second match of the day. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Earlier this season, the Cards defeated the Big Red 3-1 in Westerville.
 

Team Chemistry Plays Valuable Role in Cards Success During 2008
Written Nov. 13, 2008 by Adam Prescott

We know that the Otterbein women’s soccer team ranks among the elite in the country. We know opposing teams have struggled to score on them this season. We are aware they haven’t lost in over a month and it is quite obvious they have built a solid reputation for themselves over the years.

However, success hasn’t always just flown naturally for the program. Any team at any level, no matter how good they may be, has hit road blocks and suffered setbacks. A group of players and coaches must work hard and overcome adversity to achieve high levels of excellence.

The same is true for the Cardinals, who did not live up to their expectations in 2007. Since the turn of the millennium, Otterbein had not lost more than five games in a season, but last season saw seven losses. The team failed to advance to the conference tournament championship game for the first time since 2002, and missed out on the NCAA Tournament after being included in the field in each of the last three years.

One objective heading into this season was to improve team chemistry, which many within the program felt was a factor that led them to underachieve last year. The players and coaches wanted to make sure there were no problems with the togetherness of the team, and to stick together when times get rough. If you’ve seen the squad perform on the field in 2008, it’s pretty obvious that they have molded well with each other.

“Last year we saw each other at soccer and that was pretty much it,” explained sophomore Rachel Degen. “We just had individuals who hung out together outside of soccer. This year, we’re together a lot more as a group, which I think has benefited us on the field.”

Bonding together as a collective unit has allowed the team to develop a somewhat playful and goofy persona that has given them many memories.

“We have a lot of outgoing personalities that mesh well together in different ways,” said senior captain Julie Kathman. “We also have players that are quiet, but when they do break out of their shell and speak it’s very funny.”

One instance that is sure to be remembered happened this past weekend while the team was gearing up to host Ohio Northern in the OAC championship game. As a result of breaking her nose in the semifinals, midfielder Cristen Herold was forced to wear a protective mask in order to play in the title game. After noticing Herold was uncomfortable wearing the mask, the entire team decided to wear bright turquoise SpongeBob SquarePants band-aids over their noses as moral support.

“Cristen is such an essential part of our midfield and we knew we needed her,” Degen said. “If that’s what we had to do to get her on the field then we were going to do it.”

The team’s coaching staff could not have been more pleased with what they saw.

“I can’t think of too many teams who would go into such an important game wearing SpongeBob band-aids on their noses,” said Head Coach Brandon Koons. “When everyone on the team can take such a big game and be willing to do something that people might laugh at you about, all to support one girl, I think that shows a ton of chemistry and it was something I was really happy about.” 

It is times like those that have allowed this now cohesive unit to develop a sense of trust amongst them, and it has shown with how well-rounded the team is. This season, 11 different players have scored a goal, with at least six players recording four goals or more. 19 of 24 position players have tallied a point this fall, and it appears that almost anyone should be considered a threat to score. A prime example came in Saturday’s championship game when Degen, who had only scored one other goal the entire season, nailed a shot from 25 yards out that put the Cards ahead for good.

“I told coach before the game that I was going to get out of my sophomore slump, and I had a good feeling going into the match,” said Degen. “I couldn’t ask for anything more than to put away the game-winning goal for this group of girls.”

While many Cardinals have gotten into the scoring column this year, the same cannot be said for the opposition. Kathman and sophomore Jenny Knox have formed a defensive tandem that not many opponents have been able to conquer.

“Jenny and I have learned a lot from each other this year,” explained Kathman. “We both have leadership at different levels and we also possess different abilities, so we just combine those together to provide a strong defense.”

Koons was also quick to point out the contributions Knox has made that have combined with Kathman’s already strong leadership.

“Jenny came into this season very ready and in good shape,” he said. “She quickly made the position her own and it has allowed her to communicate when there is some question regarding different assignments on the field. She is very organized and very smart, and her judgment has just been tremendous.”

While multiple underclassmen have been steady contributors this season, the fact still remains that only eight of the 26 players on the roster have played in an NCAA Tournament game.

“I think everyone will be a little more excited, but we’ll treat it as any other game,” Degen said. “That’s how coach has had us treat every big game all year.”

It’s moments in the spotlight like these where senior leadership can play a crucial role.

“I’ve been there before and the crowd will be much bigger and the intensity will be much higher,” Kathman said. “But I’ll let the younger players know it’s important just to stay focused one game at a time.”

The pressure of a single elimination scenario has not worried Kathman, who is playing her final season in a Cardinal uniform.

“My outlook hasn’t changed much because I’ve never really felt threatened at any point this season, even with the loss at Wilmington or the tie against John Carroll,” she said. “I have confidence in our team so I haven’t really thought about my career ending. I think we will do really well in this tournament, so I’ll take it one game at a time and enjoy it. I’ve never taken it for granted because I know I’m going to miss it.”

Fans can expect nothing less than 100% from Kathman and her teammates come Saturday.
 

Koons Chosen as OAC Coach of the Year
Written Nov. 12, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Head Coach Brandon Koons has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth time, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Koons recently led the 16th ranked Cardinals to their fourth conference regular-season title and third tournament title. His team finished with a 7-1-1 conference record this season and earned the #1 seed in the tournament where they beat Ohio Northern in the championship game to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The program will be competing in the national tournament for the fourth time in the last five years.

Since taking over as head coach in 1999, Koons has led the program to a mark of 135-42-16 and has surpassed his own single-season record for wins four times after breaking the previous record in his first season at the helm.
 

Cards Earn Eight Selections to All-Conference Team
Written Nov. 12, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein had two players named First Team All-OAC and eight total players earn conference accolades, announced the conference office Wednesday.

The eight Cardinals that were selected to the all-conference team were the most by any school. Wilmington received six selections while conference tournament runner-up Ohio Northern had five players recognized.

Sophomore defender Jenny Knox and sophomore forward Lindsey Rudibaugh headlined the Otterbein selections by being named to the first team.

Sophomore midfielders Rachel Degen, Cristen Herold, and Tara Smith, and freshman forward Sarah Sharbaugh were all selected to the conference second team.

Sophomore goalkeeper Tara Carter and senior defender Julie Kathman rounded out the Otterbein award recipients by earning spots on the honorable mention team.

Knox (Gahanna/Bishop Hartley) and Kathman (Greenville) have both started all 19 games this year and have teamed together to lead a defense that was the best in the OAC, allowing only nine goals. Otterbein has posted 12 shutouts this season and their goals against average (0.46) currently ranks them 13th in the nation. The Otterbein defense also ranks 13th in the country in shutout percentage (.630), after holding opponents scoreless in 12 of 19 contests this year.

Knox has recorded ten points (four goals, two assists) on the season while Kathman has one assist. Kathman appeared on the All-OAC second team last season.

Rudibaugh (Dublin/Coffman) leads the Cards in points with 22 (ten goals, two assists). She finished fourth in the league in points and tied for second in goals scored. The sophomore has scored a goal in four straight games and has recorded a point in each of the last seven.

Degen (Dublin/Scioto) has scored nine points (two goals, five assists) this season, including the game-winner in the OAC tournament championship. Her five assists put her in a tie for fourth in the league.

Herold (Dublin/Coffman) has posted ten points (two goals, six assists) this season. She finished the season tied for second in the OAC in assists.

Smith (Westerville/South) also has ten points (four goals, two assists) this season. Earlier this fall, Smith scored the game’s first two goals in a 3-0 win over Allegheny.

Sharbaugh (Pittsburgh, PA/Lebanon) ranks second on the team and tied for 7^th in the conference in points with 18 (six goals, six assists). She finished tied for second in the league with Herold in assists and ranks tied for third in the OAC with three game winning goals on the season.

Carter (Pickerington/North) has started all 19 games between the posts for the Cardinals this season and finished first in the conference in shutouts (10) and second in save percentage (.850). Her goals against average of 0.46 ranked her first in the OAC and 15th in the country.

Overall, the team’s 16-1-2 overall record ranked them 11th in the nation in win-loss-tie percentage (.895).

Click here to view all women's soccer awards for the Ohio Athletic Conference.
 

Otterbein to Host Penn State Altoona in NCAA Tournament
Written Nov. 10, 2008 by Adam Prescott

Otterbein (16-1-2), ranked #16 in the country by the NSCAA, will host Penn State Altoona (17-0-2) in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Clements Field. 

The Cardinals received an automatic bid to compete in the 61 team national tournament by defeating Ohio Northern 2-0 in the conference tournament championship game on Saturday. Sophomore midfielder Rachel Degen nailed a shot from 25 yards out in the first half that ended up being the game winner.

On Saturday, Otterbein will be hosting an opponent that it is somewhat unfamiliar with.

“I don’t believe Otterbein has ever played Penn State Altoona in anything,” said Head Coach Brandon Koons. “I know they have a good team and good results, but I don’t know much more than that.”

The Cards enter this NCAA Tournament having not lost in over a month. They have posted a 9-0-1 record since losing their only game of the season at Wilmington on October 4.

“There has been a huge discussion lately on whether this is the best team we’ve ever had, and I think that will be determined here within the next couple of weeks,” said Koons. “I think how well you do in the NCAA Tournament is the best way to argue that topic. Obviously we equaled winning the regular season and OAC Tournament like the 2005 team did, but the 2005 team was still playing two weeks from now, so time will tell.”

Otterbein will be competing in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time while Penn State Altoona will be making their first ever tournament appearance. The Cardinals last trip to the tournament came in 2006 when they lost 2-1 to Wittenberg in the first round.

Also in the Otterbein/Penn State Altoona pod are 19^th ranked Denison (14-4-1) and Centre (KY) (12-5-1), who will play the other first-round game at Otterbein's Clements Field.  The winners will face each other on Sunday at 1 p.m.

If Otterbein does advance, playing in back-to-back games is not something that will be new.

“At the beginning of the season we always play a couple weekend games back-to-back so we can get an idea of who can do it,” Koons explained. “One of the attributes of our team that has made us successful this season has been our depth. We’ve had numerous games where players have been unavailable and we were just fine. It’s tough to play two days in a row, but as of right now we don’t have any kids who can’t do it.”

While the two schools have never met, Altoona did defeat Ohio Athletic Conference school Marietta by a score of 3-2 in overtime earlier this season. Otterbein claimed a 4-0 victory over the Pioneers back on October 7.

The Lions are led by freshman forward Emily Reimold (Shrewsbury, PA/Susquehannock), who has tallied 45 total points on the season (19 goals, seven assists). The Altoona defense has been stingy this year, carrying a goals against average of 0.30 and recording 14 shutouts.

The Cardinals are paced by sophomore forward Lindsey Rudibaugh, who has totaled 22 points (ten goals, two assists) for the season. The Cardinal defense has allowed only nine goals on the year, a mark that ranked them first in the OAC. They have posted 12 shutouts and hold a goals against average of 0.46

General admission to the match is $6. Student and senior citizen admission will be $3 while children ages 3-12 will be admitted for $2.
 

Otterbein Claims OAC Tournament Title With Win Over Ohio Northern
Written Nov. 8, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – #1 seed Otterbein (16-1-2) defeated Ohio Northern (14-6-1), the second seed, by a score of 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Clements Field to win the OAC Tournament championship.

Sophomore midfielder Rachel Degen scored the game’s first goal at the 19:32 mark of the opening half when she drilled a shot into the back of the net from 25 yards out, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. The goal was assisted by sophomore defender Jenny Knox.

Neither team was able to score the remainder of the first half as Otterbein took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Cardinal sophomore forward Lindsey Rudibaugh then extended the Otterbein lead to 2-0 when she took a pass from teammate Sarah Sharbaugh and shot it past the Ohio Northern goalie in the 60th minute. The score marked Rudibaugh’s fourth consecutive game with a goal.

The Polar Bears were unable to find a way past the Otterbein defense the remainder of the way as the Cards earned a 2-0 victory to claim the tournament championship for the third time in the last five years.

Otterbein held a 10-6 shot advantage while attempting four corner kicks to the Polar Bear’s three.

Sophomore goalkeeper Tara Carter tallied one save for Otterbein while Ohio Northern goalie Kristen DeWees stopped four Cardinal shots.

With the victory, the 16th ranked Cardinals receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament slated to begin next week.
 

Otterbein Advances to OAC Championship with Victory Over Capital
Written Nov. 6, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – #1 seed Otterbein (15-1-2) defeated Capital (11-7-2), the fourth seed, by a score of 2-1 Thursday afternoon at Clements Field in the semifinals of the OAC Tournament.

The Cardinals, ranked #16 in the country by the NSCAA, wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as junior forward Megan Cooper took a Sarah Sharbaugh shot that had deflected off the Capital goalie and put it into the back of the next just 34 seconds into the contest.

An aggressive first half of play ended with Otterbein taking a 1-0 lead into intermission.

The Crusaders responded in the second half when Chelsea Caldwell took a cross from teammate Tara Zimmer at the 66:12 mark and headed it past Otterbein sophomore goalkeeper Tara Carter to even the score at 1-1.

Nearly five minutes later, Otterbein was awarded a free kick after a Capital player had touched the ball illegally with her hands just outside of the box. Cardinal sophomore forward Lindsey Rudibaugh, the reigning OAC Player of the Week, wrapped the kick around a wall of Capital defenders and saw her shot sail over the Crusader goalies head into the top left corner of the goal for the game-winner.

Capital held a 13-8 shot advantage and also held a slim 3-2 edge on corner kicks.

Carter turned in a solid effort between the pipes with five saves while Crusader keeper Sherry Lyle recorded one.

With the victory, Otterbein moves on to host Ohio Northern in the tournament championship. The second seeded Polar Bears advanced after defeating Wilmington, the third seed, by a score of 4-0 in Ada on Tuesday. Game time from Clements field is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 

Otterbein to Host Capital in OAC Tournament Semi-Finals
Written Nov. 5, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – #1 seed Otterbein will be hosting cross-town rival Capital, the #4 seed, on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the semi-final round of the Ohio Athletic Conference women’s soccer tournament.

Since the Cardinals lone loss of the season at Wilmington, a 1-0 defeat back on October 4, the team has gone 7-0-1 on their way to an OAC regular season championship. With crucial victories over Ohio Northern and Capital in the last eight days of the regular season, the Cards appear to be hitting their stride heading into post-season play.

“We’ve enjoyed the momentum of having won a few big games in a row,” said Head Coach Brandon Koons. “Last year we felt we underachieved. We now have concrete evidence that shows we can succeed, which is important.  I think we can relax and play our game from now on.”

Many of the players seem to have stepped their game up a notch, which has the coaching staff optimistic.

“Players go in and out of form for periods during every season and we are excited that so many of our players are “in form” right now”, explained Koons. “Lindsey (Rudibaugh) is scoring goals, Sarah Sharbaugh looks to be in good form, our midfielders are creating chances and our defense is holding strong. Tara (Carter) was called upon to make a couple big saves over the weekend and she was great. It seems we are peaking at the right time.”

Otterbein, ranked #16 in the country and second in the Great Lakes Region, will try to defeat Capital for the second time in six days, with the winner earning the right to play in the championship game on Saturday.
 

OAC Names Rudibaugh Player of the Week
Written Nov. 3, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein sophomore forward Lindsey Rudibaugh (Dublin/Coffman) has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

With the Cardinals needing two wins this past week to win the OAC regular season championship, Rudibaugh helped the team do just that.

On Wednesday, she scored two second half goals in a 2-0 victory over Muskingum as Otterbein took over the top spot in the conference.

On Saturday, Rudibaugh scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over rival Capital. The win clinched the regular season title and gave the Cards the #1 seed in this week’s conference tournament.

Rudibaugh has started all 17 games this season and ranks in the top ten in the conference in points (18), goals scored (8), and shots (57).
 

Cards Win OAC Regular-Season Title with 1-0 Win Over Capital
Written Nov. 1, 2008 by Adam Prescott

COLUMBUS, OHIO—The Otterbein women's soccer team (14-1-2, 7-1-1 OAC) defeated Capital (10-6, 5-4 OAC) by a score of 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Columbus Crew Stadium to earn the OAC regular-season championship.

Sophomore forward Lindsey Rudibaugh put Otterbein ahead for good when she converted a header off a cross from freshman Sarah Sharbaugh in the game's sixth minute, giving the 19th-ranked Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinal defense proved to be too strong the remainder of the game as Capital was unable to find a way to maneuver a shot past sophomore goalkeeper Tara Carter.

The Crusaders held a 10-8 shot advantage and also held a 5-3 edge on corner kicks. There were 27 total fouls called in the contest.

Carter stopped four shots between the posts for Otterbein while Capital goalie Sherry Lyle recorded three saves.

The victory gives Otterbein their third OAC regular-season title in the last seven years.

The Cards will be the #1 seed in the upcoming OAC Tournament, slated to begin on Tuesday. Otterbein will have a first-round bye before hosting a semifinal match on Thursday.

Four Earn ESPN The Magazine Academic Team Honors
Written Oct. 30, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Julie Kathman, a senior from Greenville (Greenville High School), Tara Carter, a sophomore from Pickerington (Pickerington North High School), and Jenny Knox, a sophomore from Gahanna (Bishop Hartley High School) were named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA), released today by CoSIDA.   

Carly Dent, a junior from Pataskala (Watkins Memorial High School), was named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV third team.

Kathman, a three-year starter, has one assist on the season and has led a defensive unit that has totaled ten shutouts. She is majoring in Organizational Communications and has appeared on the Otterbein Dean’s List all nine quarters.

Carter, a two-year starter at goalkeeper, has posted ten shutouts on the season and has saved 41 shots. She currently boasts a 0.49 goals against average as well as an .837 save percentage. A double major in art and art history, she has made the Dean’s List three times.

Knox, a two-year starter at defender, has totaled four goals and one assist on the season and teams with Kathman to spearhead a defensive unit ranking first in the conference. An Allied Health major, she has made the Dean’s List all three quarters.

Dent, a three-year starter at midfielder, has one goal and two assists on the season. A Life Science major, she has made the Otterbein Dean’s List six times.

Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

The Cardinals are currently 13-1-2 overall and 6-1-1 in OAC play. They are ranked #19 in the nation and play cross-town rival Capital on Saturday at Columbus Crew stadium. Game time is set for noon.
 

Cardinals Ride Rudibaugh in Win Over Muskingum
Written Oct. 29, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (13-1-2, 6-1-1 OAC) defeated Muskingum (7-8-2, 2-5-1 OAC) by a score of 2-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville.

Neither team found a way to score in the opening half as the game went into halftime locked at 0-0.

Sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh put the Cardinals on the board when she scored at the 54:11 mark, giving Otterbein a 1-0 lead. Rudibaugh then added her second goal of the contest in the 71^st minute to extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0.

Neither team scored the rest of the way as Otterbein earned a 2-0 conference victory.

Otterbein held a 16-3 shot advantage while taking seven corner kicks. The Muskies did not attempt any corners.

Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter had one save while Muskingum goalie Princess Tarrance stopped six Cardinal shots.

The Cardinals next travel to play cross-town rival Capital on Saturday. Game time from Columbus Crew stadium is set for noon.
 

Sharbaugh Leads #24 Otterbein in Victory Over Ohio Northern
Written Oct. 25, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (12-1-2, 5-1-1 OAC) defeated Ohio Northern (11-5, 5-2 OAC) by a score of 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Clements Field.

The Cardinals struck first when junior/forward Megan Cooper found a loose ball in the box at the 4:16 mark and put it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Ohio Northern then responded when Chelsea Albert scored off a corner kick to even the game at 1-1 in the 13th minute.

Freshman/forward Sarah Sharbaugh then put Otterbein back on top at 2-1 when she rebounded a shot off of the Ohio Northern goalie and scored at the 23:18 mark. The game would head to halftime with the host Cardinals holding a 2-1 edge.

Sharbaugh then extended her team’s lead to 3-1 after taking a pass from teammate Rachel Degen and lofting the ball over the goalie’s head in the 64^th minute. The goal would be the only score of the second half as Otterbein earned a 3-1 victory.

The Cards held a 10-5 shot advantage while both teams took six corner kicks.

Sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter and Ohio Northern goalie Kristen DeWees each recorded three saves.

Otterbein next hosts Muskingum on Wednesday. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

#24 Otterbein Fights John Carroll to Tie
Written Oct. 21, 2008 by Adam Prescott

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (11-1-2, 4-1-1 OAC) tied John Carroll (9-3-4, 2-2-2 OAC) by a score of 1-1 on Tuesday afternoon.

John Carroll’s Aleks Quenneville put the Blue Streaks up 1-0 when she scored in the 28^th minute off an assist from Caitlin Walton.

Neither team was able to score the rest of the first half as the game headed into intermission with John Carroll holding a 1-0 lead.

Otterbein sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh then tied the game at 1-1 when she found a way to put a shot past the John Carroll goalie at the 82:20 mark. The goal was assisted by freshman/forward Sarah Sharbaugh and junior/forward Becky Bowser. The Cardinals out-shot the Blue Streaks 10-4 in the second half.

Otterbein held a 6-1 shot advantage throughout both overtimes, but were unable to capitalize on any scoring chances and settled for a 1-1 tie.

Overall, the Cards held a 21-8 edge on shots and attempted five corner kicks compared to only one for John Carroll.

Sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter stopped three shots while Blue Streak goalies Michelle Zrebiec and Molly Gradowski combined for nine saves.

Otterbein next returns home to host Ohio Northern on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 

Harper Scores Twice as #25 Otterbein Topples Heidelberg
Written Oct. 18, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein (11-1-1, 4-1 OAC) defeats Heidelberg (4-8-3, 0-4-1 OAC) by a score of 4-0 on Saturday afternoon in Westerville.

Otterbein got on the board first when freshman/forward Sarah Sharbaugh converted a cross from teammate Cristen Herold in the fifth minute to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

Senior/Midfielder Natalie Harper then headed in two consecutive goals, at the 26:03 mark of the first half and 71:50 mark of the second half, that extended the Otterbein lead to 3-0. Both goals were assisted by freshman/midfielder Alyssa Hale.

Herold then added a late goal by taking advantage of a loose ball that deflected off of the Heidelberg goalie in the 84^th minute. The goal capped the scoring for the day as Otterbein earned a 4-0 victory.

The Cardinals held a 20-2 shot advantage while attempting 17 corner kicks compared to only one for the Student Princes.

Sophomore/goalie Tara Carter and freshman/keeper Kristen Hughes combined for the Otterbein shutout, with Carter recording two saves. Heidelberg goalie Lauren Sweeney had eight saves between the posts.

Otterbein returns to action when they travel to play John Carroll on Tuesday, October 21. Starting time is set for 4 p.m.
 

Novak's Second Career Goal Pushes #25 Otterbein Past Mount Union
Written Oct. 15, 2008 by Adam Prescott

ALLIANCE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (10-1-1, 3-1 OAC) defeated Mount Union (4-8-1, 1-3 OAC ) by a score of 1-0 on Wednesday evening in Alliance.

The game appeared to be heading into intermission with a scoreless 0-0 tie until freshman/forward Adrienne Novak found the back of the net by beating the Mount Union goalkeeper near the post just seconds before the opening half of play concluded. The goal would give the Cardinals a 1-0 halftime lead.

Otterbein’s strong defensive play continued in the second half as they were able to preserve a 1-0 conference victory.

The Cards attempted 16 shots while their defense prevented the Raiders from attempting a shot the entire game. Otterbein also held a 11-2 edge in corner kicks.

Cardinal sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter did not face any shots, while Mount Union goalie Kaitlyn Mallernee had eight saves.

Otterbein next returns home to host Heidelberg on Saturday. Game time from Clements field is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Cardinals Score Three Times in Victory Over Baldwin-Wallace
Written Oct. 11, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein (9-1-1, 2-1 OAc) defeated Baldwin-Wallace (5-4-3, 2-1 OAC) by a score of 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Westerville.

Otterbein junior/midfielder Carly Dent put the Cardinals ahea 1-0 when she nailed a shot from the left sideline off a pass from teammate Cristen Herold at the 14:55 mark of the opening half.

Junior/forward Megan Cooper then extended the Cardinal lead to 2-0 when she gathered a ball that deflected off of the Baldwin-Wallace goalie and put it in the back of the net in the 26^th minute.

The game would head to intermission with the host Cardinals holding a 2-0 advantage.

Sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh added a late goal for Otterbein when she connected on a shot at the 86:57 mark of the second half. The goal would cap the scoring for the day as Otterbein earned a 3-0 conference victory.

The Cards out-shot the Yellow Jackets 20-4 while also holding an 11-0 edge on corner kicks.

Otterbein sophomore/keeper Tara Carter recorded two saves while Baldwin-Wallace goalie Becky Miner stopped six shots.

The Cardinals next travel to Alliance, Ohio to play Mount Union College on Wednesday, October 15. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 

Cards Get Two Goals from Knox in Victory Over Marietta
Written Oct. 7, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (8-1-1, 1-1 OAC) defeated Marietta (3-8-1, 0-1-1 OAC) by a score of 4-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville.

The Cardinals grabbed a quick 1-0 lead when freshman/forward Sarah Sharbaugh found the back of the net after taking a long pass from teammate Cristen Herold in the 15^th minute.

Sophomore/defender Jenny Knox then converted a penalty kick at the 21:32 mark to extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0. Neither team scored the remainder of the half as the game went to halftime with Otterbein leading 2-0.

Knox then headed in a cross from Herold in the 78^th minute to put the Cardinals up 3-0, while sophomore/midfielder Tara Smith added a late goal by nailing a shot from 30 yards out to give the hosts a 4-0 victory.

Otterbein held a 26-4 shot advantage and attempted thirteen corner kicks compared to only two for the Pioneers.

Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter stopped two shots while Marietta goalie Helen Hetzel recorded ten saves.

The Cardinals next host Baldwin-Wallace on Saturday. Game time from Clements Field is set for 1 p.m.
 

#15 Otterbein Upset at Wilmington
Written Oct. 4, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WILMINGTON, OHIO – # 15 Otterbein (7-1-1, 0-1 OAC) falls to Wilmington by a score of 1-0 on Saturday evening in Wilmington.

The Quakers took an early 1-0 lead when Erica Sayler found the back of the net just eight minutes into the contest.

Neither team was able to score the remainder of the half as the game went into halftime with Wilmington leading 1-0.

The Cardinals were not able to capitalize on any scoring opportunities in the second half as host Wilmington preserved a 1-0 upset.

Otterbein held an 11-9 shot advantage while both teams took two corner kicks.

Cardinal sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter had five saves while Wilmington keeper Casey McKinney recorded one save.

Otterbein next returns home to host Marietta on Tuesday. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
 

Capelle Earns Second OAC Player of the Week Award
Written Sep. 29, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein senior/forward Lauren Capelle (Fairfield/Fairfield H.S) was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season, the conference office announced Monday.

Last week, Capelle scored three goals to help lead Otterbein to a 5-3 victory over Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday. She also added an assist to total seven points for the contest. Capelle did not play in Otterbein’s 2-0 victory over Earlham on Saturday due to injury.

Otterbein next travels to play Wilmington on Saturday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

#17 Otterbein Uses Two First Half Scores to Defeat Earlham
Written Sep. 27, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (7-0-1) defeated Earlham (IN) (8-2) by a score of 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville.

Otterbein sophomore/defender Jenny Knox gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead when she found the back of the net off an assist from teammate Megan Cooper at the 36:54 mark of the opening half. The score came off a corner kick that was taken by Cara Gale.

Senior/midfielder Natalie Harper then scored her first goal of the season by nailing a shot from 20 yards out in the 42^nd minute to extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0. The game would go into intermission with Otterbein leading 2-0.

Neither team was able to score in the second half as the Cardinals earned a 2-0 victory.

Otterbein held a 19-5 shot advantage while attempting nine corner kicks to only two for the Quakers.

Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter stopped three shots while Earlham goalie Megan Holthaus recorded eight saves.

The Cardinals next travel to play Wilmington on Saturday, October 4. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Women's Soccer Uses Combination of Youth and Experience to Excel
Written Sep. 25, 2008 by Adam Prescott

Lauren Capelle leads the Cardinals in scoring with 11 points.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – It is no secret that head coach Brandon Koons has built a reputable women’s soccer program at Otterbein College throughout the last decade. It is also no secret that in order to achieve a high level of success over a period of time, a program must have quality players. The young 2008 season has held true to that philosophy thus far, as the Cardinals have gotten off to a quick 6-0-1 start this fall and have earned a #17 national ranking.

Just as many other successful teams have done in the past, this season’s squad walks with their own unique swagger, and according to their coach, they were well prepared before becoming collegiate athletes.

“We have more players now that have had very high levels of success in club and high school soccer in the past” said Koons. “Now that our large sophomore class has more invested, they are combining will with talent and experience. It’s like we have three years of seniors on the field right now.”

In addition, the incoming freshman class has been able to make a smooth transition to the college game and become an extra asset to an already strong core group of returning players. 

“The freshmen have contributed in so many ways,” explained Koons.  “Alyssa (Hale) got a chance in the first game that we didn’t necessarily anticipate, but she stepped up and made the position her own. Sarah Sharbaugh showed over the course of a number of games that she could be consistent, while Ashleh Baumann and Adrienne Novak have shown they can play a number of different roles.”

On top of those four newcomers, Koons is also quick to recognize the impact the other freshman have had on the team.

“We have other freshmen that would play or even start on other teams in the conference,” Koons said. “They are so valuable because they make the team so competitive in training and practices. Overall, we have 26 players that we are very happy with right now.”

However, while this team may have its fair share of youngsters, it seems to be the upperclassmen that have put this team in position to be considered special.

“The leadership of our seniors is a large part of our success this year, said Koons. “Julie (Kathman) is on the field the most, but Cara Gale, Kate Weale, Lauren Capelle, and Natalie Harper are leaders as well.  Whether it’s been during games, during practices, pre-season or even before that, our seniors have been like coaches. They all know our system and style so well. Our young players have learned so much because the five seniors seem to be on top of it all.”

The experience that the team possesses has allowed them to channel their emotions and persevere when faced with adversity. Throughout the past week and a half, the team has either been tied or trailing at halftime in three games. However, they managed to out-score their opponents 8-1 in the second half of those contests.

“At halftime against Denison, we took our frustration and turned it into an appreciation for being challenged,” explained Koons. “We knew we were learning something and it made it easier to calm down in the second half. Against Ohio Wesleyan, our coaching staff convinced our players to stop allowing them to change our style and just focus on doing what we do best.”

Whatever the reason is for the quick start, one constant characteristic of the team will be their unity.

“This year the team has put a big emphasis on building chemistry,” Koons said. “They are very close off the field, and it is starting to become obvious on the field as well.”

You can next catch the Cardinals in action when they host Earlham (IN) on Saturday. The Quakers come to Westerville with a record of 8-1 and boast two of the top eight scorers in the nation. Game time from Clements Field is set for 2 pm.

#17 Otterbein Defeats Ohio Wesleyan Behind Capelle's Hat Trick
Written Sep. 23, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (6-0-1) was victorious over Ohio Wesleyan (4-4-1) by a score of 5-3 on Tuesday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville.

The Cardinals, who are ranked #17 in the country by the NSCAA, opened the scoring when senior/forward Lauren Capelle took a pass from teammate Carly Dent and found the back of the net just seven minutes into the game to make the score 1-0.

Ohio Wesleyan’s Michelle Corbett then gathered a loose ball that came into the box and shot it past Otterbein goalie Tara Carter to even the score at 1-1 at the 17:43 mark of the opening half. Otterbein countered when Capelle converted a cross from Cara Gale less than one minute later to put the host Cardinals back on top at 2-1.

The Bishops then used a free kick from 20 yards out by Allie Cozzone at the 24:44 mark to tie the game at 2-2. Minutes later, Ohio Wesleyan took their first lead when Corbett scored her second goal of the contest off of a corner kick from Cozzone.

Ohio Wesleyan would take a 3-2 lead into intermission.

Faced with adversity, the Cardinals came out aggressive in the second half and used a goal from sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh at the 51:33 mark to draw even at 3-3. Sophomore/midfielder Tara Smith then put the Cardinals ahead 4-3 after receiving a pass from Capelle in the 61^st minute.

Moments later, Capelle took a cross from teammate Rachel Degen and put the ball over the goalies head for her third goal of the contest, giving Otterbein a 5-3 lead.

Neither team was able to score in the final 27 minutes of action as Otterbein earned a 5-3 victory.

The Cardinals held a 22-5 shot advantage while attempting 13 corner kicks compared to only one for the Bishops.

Carter stopped two shots for Otterbein while Ohio Wesleyan keeper Laura VanHoey recorded ten saves.

Otterbein next hosts Earlham (IN) on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Smith Scores Two Goals as Cards Defeat Allegheny
Written Sep. 20, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (5-0-1) defeated Allegheny (1-5-1) by a score of 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville.

Otterbein sophomore/midfielder Tara Smith gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead when she converted a header off a free kick from teammate Rachel Degen at the 11:24 mark of the opening half.

Aggressive play from both sides prohibited any scoring throughout the remainder of the first half as the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead into intermission. There were 16 total fouls in the first half of action.

Smith then retrieved a loose ball in the box at the 67:15 mark of the second half and found the back of the net to extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0. Freshman/midfielder Adrienne Novak then nailed a shot from 30 yards out to push the Otterbein lead to 3-0 in the 86^th minute of play.

Neither team scored the rest of the way as Otterbein earned a 3-0 victory.

Otterbein held a 17-3 shot advantage while attempting nine corner kicks to only two for the Gators.

Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter stopped three shots while Allegheny goalies Emily Karr and Becca O’Shurak combined for two.

The Cardinals next host Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday. First kick from Clements Field is set for 4:30 p.m.

Cardinals Score Three Goals in Second Half to Defeat #21 Denison
Written Sep. 17, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (4-0-1) defeated #21 Denison (4-2) by a score of 3-1 on Wednesday evening at Clements Field in Westerville, Ohio.

Neither team was able to score in the first half as the game went into intermission tied at 0-0.

Otterbein sophomore/midfielder Rachel Degen broke the tie by slipping past a defender and knocking in a shot from 30 yards out in the 55^th minute to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0. Two minutes later, Otterbein freshman/forward Sarah Sharbaugh took a long pass from a teammate who was at midfield and found the back of the net to extend the Cardinal lead to 2-0 at the 56:51 mark.

The Big Red, ranked # 21 in the country by the NSCAA, responded when Anna Rusch took a pass from Laura Kuehn and scored in the 65^th minute to cut the Otterbein lead in half at 2-1. This was only the second goal allowed by the Cardinals all season.

Sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh added another Otterbein goal at the 68:46 mark when she took a header from Sharbaugh and lofted the ball over the goalies head, giving her team a 3-1 lead. This was Rudibaugh’s second goal in as many games.

Neither team scored the rest of the way as the Cardinals earned a 3-1 victory.

Denison held an 8-7 shot advantage while both teams attempted two corner kicks.

Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter tallied one save while Denison goalies Courtney Cobb and Kerrigan Dopp combined for two.

The Cardinals next host Allegheny (PA) this Saturday in game one of a men’s/women’s double-header. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.

Cards Victorious over Hornets in Home Season Opener
Written Sep. 13, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein women’s soccer team (3-0-1) defeated Kalamazoo College (MI) (3-3) by a score of 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Clements Field in Westerville, Ohio.

Neither team was able to score in the first half as the game went into intermission locked at 0-0.

Otterbein sophomore/defender Jenny Knox broke the tie by knocking in a loose ball in the box off a corner kick at the 67:03 mark of the second half to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0.

Sophomore/forward Lindsey Rudibaugh then found the back off the net less than a minute later off an assist from teammate Carley Dent to put the host Cardinals ahead 2-0. Neither team scored the rest of the way as Otterbein preserved a 2-0 victory in their first game in Westerville this fall.

The Cardinals held a 31-3 shot advantage, and also had 18 shots on goal compared to only two for Kalamazoo. Otterbein attempted nine corner kicks while the Hornets did not attempt any.

Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter recorded three saves while Kalamazoo keeper Taylor Comiskey had a season best 16.

The Cardinals next travel to Granville, Ohio to play Denison on Wednesday, September 17. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Capelle Earns Player of the Week Honors
Written Sep. 8, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein senior/forward Lauren Capelle (Fairfield/Fairfield High School) was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week, announced by the conference office on Monday.

This past weekend, Capelle scored the game-winning goal against Haverford (PA) Saturday in the Cardinals' opening game of the Carnegie Mellon tournament. The goal was scored at the 16:41 mark of the opening half when she beat a defender and slipped the ball past the goalie.

Capelle then turned around on Sunday and scored the game-tying goal against Elizabethtown, who came into the game ranked #18 in the country. The contest ended in a 1-1 tie.

Otterbein next hosts Kalamazoo (MI) on Saturday. First kick is set for noon.

Otterbein Battles #18 Elizabethtown To Tie
Written Sep. 7, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – The Otterbein women’s soccer team (2-0-1) played #18 Elizabethtown (2-1-2) to a 1-1 tie on Sunday, September 7 at the Carnegie Mellon tournament in Pittsburgh, PA.

Elizabethtown, ranked #18 nationally, struck first when Brooke Dotterer had a shot deflect off an Otterbein defender and find the back of the net in the game’s fourth minute, making the score 1-0.

Otterbein senior/forward Lauren Capelle then scored less than two minutes later at the 5:02 mark when she took a rebounded shot off the goal post and shot it past the goalkeeper to even the score at 1-1.

The game would head into intermission locked at one goal a piece.

Neither team was able to find a way to score in the second half or either overtime period as the game would end in a 1-1 tie.

The Cards out-shot the Blue Jays 8-4 and also attempted six corner kicks compared to only three for their opponent.

Both Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter and Elizabethtown goalie Angela Freeland stopped two shots.

The Cardinals next return home to host Kalamazoo (MI) on Saturday, September. Game time is scheduled for noon.

Otterbein Defeats Haverford (PA) In Opening Game Of Carnegie Mellon Tournament
Written Sep. 6, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – The Otterbein women’s soccer team (2-0) defeated Haverford (1-2) by a score of 3-0 in the opening game of the Carnegie Mellon (PA) tournament on Saturday, September 6 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The shutout marked the 100th in the history of the Otterbein women's soccer program.

The Cardinals took control early as senior/forward Lauren Capelle slipped past a defender after taking a pass from junior/forward Rebecca Bowser and scored to grab an early 1-0 lead at the 16:41 mark.

Freshman/forward Sarah Sharbaugh then found the back of the net at the 38:19 off an assist from freshman/midfielder Ashleh Baumann to give Otterbein a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

The second half saw sophomore/midfielder Cristen Herold nail a shot from the top of the box in the 83^rd minute to extend the Cardinal lead to 3-0. Haverford was never able to take advantage of any opportunities the rest of the way as Otterbein earned a 3-0 victory.

The Cards out-shot the Fords 12-2 while also holding a 9-1 corner kick advantage.

Haverford goalie Lindsey Festa tallied four saves while Otterbein keeper Tara Carter had one.

The Cardinals next take on Elizabethtown (PA) tomorrow at noon.

Cards Defeat Lords in Season Opener
Written Aug. 30, 2008 by Adam Prescott

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein College’s women’s soccer team (1-0) defeated Kenyon College (0-1) by a score of 1-0 on Saturday, August 30 in Gambier, Ohio.

Otterbein struck first in the opening half when junior/forward Megan Cooper beat a defender and scored at the 35:20 mark, giving her team a 1-0 lead. Neither team was able to score the remainder of the half as the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead into intermission.

Neither team managed to convert any scoring opportunities in the second half as Otterbein preserved a 1-0 victory.

The Cardinals held a 17-14 shot advantage and attempted ten corner kicks compared to only one for the Lords.

Otterbein sophomore/goalkeeper Tara Carter recorded ten saves in goal while Kenyon goalies Kate Powers and Megan Lahr combined to tally six saves.

Four Earn Academic All-OAC Honors
Written Nov. 20, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Four members of the 2007 Otterbein women’s soccer team were selected to Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) teams, the OAC released today.

Chanel Smith, a senior from Westerville (Dublin Scioto High School), was the only Cardinal selected to the first team. The midfielder/forward, a public relations major, is a three-time Academic All-OAC selection. Smith, for the second straight year, was also a first team All-OAC selection this season.

Midfielder Carly Dent, a sophomore from Pataskala (Watkins Memorial), defender Julie Kathman, a junior from Greenville, and forward Sara Vasbinder, a senior from Westerville (St. Francis DeSales), were named to the Academic All-OAC honorable mention team.

Dent, majoring in life sciences, has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all three quarters. She was also a second team All-OAC selection this year.

Kathman, a speech communications major, has appeared on the dean’s list all six quarters. The defender also earned second team All-OAC honors in 2007.

Dent Earns Academic All-Region Honors
Written Nov. 1, 2007 by Ed Syguda

Carly Dent in action at the OAC Semifinals.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Carly Dent, a sophomore from Pataskala (Watkins Memorial High School), was named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV third team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA), released today by CoSIDA.

Dent, who switched from defender to midfielder over the last half of the season, tallied eight points on one goal and six assists for the Cardinals, who finished third in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with a 6-2-1 record.

The two-year starter is majoring in Life Science, with a minor in Spanish. Dent has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all three quarters.

Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Cards Advance in OAC Tournament
Written Oct. 30, 2007 by Don Middleton

Rachel Degen fights off a John Carroll defender in the first round of the OAC Tournament.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO―The Otterbein women’s soccer team defeated John Carroll 5-1 Tuesday at Clements Field to advance to the semifinals of the OAC Tournament.

The outcome was never in doubt as OC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half.

The Cardinals once again employed a balanced attack, using five different goal scorers and holding the Blue Streaks to only two shots on goal.  

Forward Rebecca Bowser, a sophomore from Pickerington (North), put Otterbein on the scoreboard first, hitting a header past John Carroll goalkeeper Michelle Zrebiec in the 18th minute.  The Cards scored five minutes later as senior forward Sarah Vasbinder (Westerville/St. Francis DeSales) scooped up a loose ball and put it in the net.  Junior forward Lauren Capelle (Fairfield) continued the Cardinal onslaught with a goal in the 42nd minute to give OC a 3-0 lead, which was the score at the half.

In the second half, Otterbein continued where they left off, with a goal by freshman midfielder Ashley Payne (Worthington) in the 54th minute to put the Cards up 4-0.

Otterbein freshman goalkeeper Tara Carter’s (Pickerington/North) hopes of a shutout were spoiled as JC got on the board with a goal in the 73rd minute.  The Cardinals quickly responded though as freshman midfielder Cristen Herold (Dublin/Coffman) scored in the 74th minute to give Otterbein a 5-1 lead and the eventual win.

The Cards have outscored their opponents 16-2 over the last three games and the team’s confidence seems to be gelling. 

“I think the last couple of games were against teams toward the bottom of the conference and we were able to get some goals and confidence,” said Otterbein head coach Brandon Koons.  “That helped us today because John Carroll is a good team, but we had players come out with a lot of confidence.”

Otterbein out-shot John Carroll 19-3.  With the win, the Cardinals have defeated the Blue Streaks seven consecutive times, outscoring them by a score of 25-4.

The Cards will travel to Capital Thursday to take on the Crusaders.  “It’s not a soccer game anymore,” said Koons.  “It’s us and Capital.  It’s become more of a rivalry over the last couple of years.”

Smith Named OAC Player of the Week
Written Oct. 30, 2007 by Ed Syguda

Chanel Smith

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Chanel Smith, a senior from Westerville (Dublin Scioto High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in women’s soccer, the OAC released Monday.

The midfielder helped lead Otterbein to a pair of OAC victories at Heidelberg, 6-1, and at Muskingum, 5-0, last week, notching three goals and an assist. Smith tallied two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist in the win over Heidelberg.

Smith now has 12 game-winning goals in her career, which is an Otterbein school record.