Box Score
ADA, Ohio – One strike made the difference in Monday night's Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament game that pit No. 5 Capital University (10-8-1 overall) and No. 4 Ohio Northern University (12-8-1).
Josh Spaw scored the game's only goal, which will now send the Crusaders into the OAC Tournament semifinal match against No. 1 John Carroll University (16-3-0, 9-0-0 OAC) on Wednesday afternoon.
Capital had just three shot attempts in the first half, but it was the final one that made all the difference in the entire match. After R.G. Florey missed wide and Calvin Saunders missed wide of the cage, the combination of Jacob Pulliam (Westerville, Ohio / Westerville North) and Josh Spaw (Cincinnati, Ohio) teamed up for the game's lone goal.
In the 27th minute, Pullium lined up for a corner kick and launched the ball toward a mass of players. Out of the pack Spaw lined up and cranked the game winner inside the near post for the goal.
Despite Ohio Northern placing 13 shots together in the opening half, none landed on frame. Justin Niswonger (Centerville, Ohio) got the nod between the posts and kept the defending OAC Tournament champions off of the board by making three saves in the second half. The Polar Bears only mustered four shots in the second half, but the freshman netminder endured and collected his third shutout of the season.
Ohio Northern mounted one last surge at the very end of the contest, but the Crusaders' defense stood tall and put down the last effort before the buzzer sounded.
The Crusaders are now in line to take on top-seeded John Carroll in the OAC Tournament semi-final round. The match will take place on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. from Don Schula Stadium.
