Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw men's soccer shutdown #16 Otterbein in a 2-1 non-conference match up, Tuesday night.
Going up against #16 Otterbein University Cardinals, the game started with high stakes as Sami Ahmed drew a yellow card early in the first for tugging on a defenders jersey, who then abandoned the contest ball to attempt an opposing push on Ahmed. Thereby drawing the first yellow card for the Cardinals.
Otterbein made the first shot high off-target off a free kick, and inversely AJ Hockstok made an on-target shot that was deflected out of play by a Cardinal defender.
Senior goalkeeper Sam Ortner made a diving save at 18:25, punching the ball out of play in the upper left corner of the net.
Slowing down the pace of play, Ortner took his time signaling for a long pass on a goal kick before Julian Bell gave the Tigers their best scoring opportunity yet with a shot on goal, saved by the goalie and challenged by no defenders.
The Cardinals drew two more yellow cards, before Ian Jackson made a shot just outside the penalty area; Making contact with the tip of his shoe, but ultimately saved by goalie at the last second, tipping the ball just above the crossbar.
At 34:22 Matthew Fogo made a shot on goal that was deflected by a defender in the penalty box after weaving his way into the penalty area.
During a brief lapse in DePauw's defense, Otterbein finds the back of the net with an unassisted goal at 35:36. The shot was just out of Ortner's reach in the upper left corner.
Minutes later, DePauw evened the score 1-1 with Joey Black heading the ball towards Joey Vehovsky who was able to put the ball away in the bottom right corner of the net.
Heading into halftime tied up 1-1, DePauw led in shots 8-6, 3-2 on goal.
DePauw and Otterbein challenged two uncalled fouls 15 minutes into the second half, both challenges were unsuccessful.
Tigers claimed the lead at 21:59 with Aiden Heffner delivering a long pass from outside the penalty area, with Aidan Whitley connecting with a header at the top of the penalty arc and finding the back of the net.
DePauw excelled offensively, edging Otterbein 10-8 in shots, 4-2 on goal. The Tigers drew eight corners to the Cardinals one. DePauw tallied 13 fouls compared to Otterbein's eight. Tigers had two yellow cards to Otterbein's four.
Julian Bell and Roman Girandola tallied two shots, while Braden Murphey, Ian Jackson, Matthew Fogo, Joey Vehovsky, Joey Black, and Aidan Whitley all recorded one.
Sam Ortner made one save in goal during his 90-minutes of playing time. Otterbein's goalie recorded two saves in goal.
6-1 on the season so far, men's soccer will return to action Saturday in Greencastle to take on Wilmington for a 2:30 p.m. non-conference match up.
