Ohio Wesleyan 2, Otterbein 0

Sept. 26, 2007

Junior forward Michelle Corbett (Dublin/Scioto) scored the game-winning goal in the fifth minute and senior forward Meredith Gerrick (Durham, N.C./Indianapolis (Ind.) North Central) added a crucial insurance goal that helped Ohio Wesleyan defeat Otterbein in non-conference action on Wednesday at Roy Rike Field.

Just over 4 minutes into the game, Ohio Wesleyan had earned a corner kick, and while the Bishops were not able to get off a good shot, they were able to keep the ball deep in the Otterbein end of the field. The ball came out to sophomore defender Hannah Winant (Gaithersburg, Md.) near the top of the box, and Winant sent a floating shot toward the crossbar. Otterbein keeper Tara Carter went up and knocked the ball down, but the rebound went right to Corbett, who finished off the chance for a 1-0 Ohio Wesleyan lead.

Otterbein's only good chance of the first half came in the 16th minute, when Chanel Smith sent a crossing pass in to Lindsey Rudibaugh, whose header went over the crossbar.

The Cardinals turned up the pressure in the second half. Becky Bowser ripped a shot on goal after an Otterbein corner kick in the 49th minute, and Tara Smith got off a shot from the top of the box after another Cardinal corner in the 67th minute, but both times, Ohio Wesleyan senior Ali Gary (Gahanna/Lincoln) was there to preserve the shutout.

Otterbein's best chance of the half came in the 76th minute, when Ashley Payne fired a shot that Gary saved, and Rudibaugh's follow shot also was grabbed by Gary.

The Bishops got some breathing room in the 80th minute when Gerrick hit a shot from near the top of the box and the ball skipped past Carter for a 2-0 Ohio Wesleyan lead.

The Cardinals weren't done yet, just missing connections on a Carly Dent crossing pass to a sliding Payne in front of the Ohio Wesleyan goal less than 20 seconds later. Otterbein got another chance on a direct kick in the 81st minute, but once again Gary was there.

Otterbein outshot Ohio Wesleyan, 19-7. Gary finished with 9 saves, while Carter ended up with 3 saves for Otterbein.

Box Score