COLUMBUS, Ohio – Wins are nice. Six wins in a row are even nicer. But, wins over your crosstown rival, Otterbein University are even higher on the list of nice wins. Capital University men's lacrosse did just that today as they secured their sixth consecutive win with a 15-13 triumph over the visiting Cardinals.
Capital is now 6-2 on the year and 1-0 in the OAC, while Otterbein drops to 1-7 and 0-1 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Otterbein jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first quarter, with Capital's lone goal coming from
Jacob Poole in the period.
In the second quarter, the Cardinals got ahead with two more, making the score 5-1. However, an illegal hit to the head penalty on Otterbein led to a non-releasable minute in the box. On the man-up opportunity, Capital scored twice thanks to strikes from Poole and
Mason Spaulding.
Right after the penalty expired, Spaulding scored again on a nice touch goal off a feed from
Brenden Pelton, making the score 5-4.
The same Cardinal defender was then soon whistled for an illegal body check that led to another two minute, non-releasable penalty that led to two more man-up goals from the Comets. Those tallies came from Poole and faceoff man
Freddy Noday.
Before the half was over, Otterbein came back with three goals to Capital's one (scored by Poole), to take an 8-7 lead into the halftime intermission.
Out of the break, the momentum built off the strong second quarter by the Comets and the halftime team talk led to a raucous second half that saw Capital swing the game in their favor, outscoring Otterbein 8-5 in the second half to claim a 15-13 win at the final horn.
The third quarter featured a little more back-and-forth as Capital got two goals from
Max Schillig and a goal each from Spaulding and Belt. to sandwich single Otterbein goals.
In the fourth quarter, the Comets utilized a strong run of goal scoring to all but seal the win midway through the quarter. Four straight goals from Belt (2),
Charlie Howenstine and
Brenden Pelton across a three minute span put the Comets ahead 15-11 with six minutes left in the game.
There, solid defense allowed the Comets to limit Otterbein's attempts at goal, but the Cardinals would find two more goals before the final horn to bring the final score to 15-13.
THE NUMBERS
Jacob Poole scored a career-high four goals to lead the Comet offense. He was followed up by hat tricks from the Comet leading attackmen
Mason Spaulding and
Jake Belt. Belt added an assist as well.
Max Schillig scored twice in the third quarter and was joined on the scoreboard by
Brenden Pelton,
Charlie Howenstine, and
Freddy Noday – who netted his first career goal.
Garnering assists were
Nathan Montgomery (2), Howenstine (2), Peloton, Belt, and
Robert Smith – who registered his first career assist.
In ground ball play,
Freddy Noday and
Dylan Comella led the way with six pick-ups each. Arnold FItzharris added four in his play, while
Austin Yanichko picked up three loose balls.
In caused turnover action,
Gino Nave and
Jake Belt were busy with three disruptions.
Mason Spaulding and
Ethan Adkins added one each as well.
At the faceoff X, Noday won 12 bouts and Fitzharris won four.
In the cage,
Sam McInturf made 13 saves.
THE OPPONENT
Goals - Nick Wile (4)
Assists - Four Players (1)
Ground Balls - Eddie McDonald (7)
Caused Turnovers - Three Players (2)
Faceoff Wins - Eddie McDonald (15)
Saves - Luke Farthing (1)
UP NEXT
Capital will host Muskingum University on Wednesday, March 29th at 7 p.m. in Bernlohr Stadium as their OAC schedule will comprise the remainder of the season.
