WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Capital University men's lacrosse team dominated the second and third quarters of play on Friday evening as they held on to defeat rivals Otterbein 12-11 in yet another classic edition of the Battle for the Oar. The win brought the oar back to Bexley for the first time since 2024. 

The win propels Capital to 5-6 overall and 3-1 in the OAC, while Otterbein falls to 5-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference. 

The Cardinals opened the game with the first goal just 59 seconds in, but the Comets responded with two in quick succession as Colton Woods slammed home two goals just 32 seconds apart. Mason Miller recorded an assist on the first of those two goals. 

Despite going in front, Capital found themselves trailing again a few minutes later as Max Luther completed his first-quarter hat-trick at the 8:58 mark of the opening period to make it 3-2, Otterbein. That would be the last time Capital would fall behind in the game though as they would break the game open in the second and third quarters. 

First, Kaison Durham tied the game at 3-3 by the end of the first. Then, Tyler Lieu, Jess Lipp, and Colton Woods would score in the opening minutes of the second quarter to make it a quick 6-3, Cap. 

Otterbein would get one back, but another strike from Woods would restore Capital's three goal lead by halftime, 7-4. 

In the third, Capital scored four to Otterbein's three to make it a four-goal game with just one quarter left to play. Those third quarter goals came off the sticks of Woods, Aiden Evans (2) and Lipp. 

In the fourth, Otterbein chipped back into the game with a pair of quickfire goals, making it 11-9, but Anthony Carusone scored the all-important 12th goal for the Comets at the 11:35 mark of the fourth to make it 12-9. 

From there, the Cardinals clawed their way back to a 12-11 score, but the final goal would be too-little, too-late as Capital left Memorial Stadium with the win. 

THE NUMBERS
Colton Woods scored a career-high five goals with one assist to lead the offense. 

Both Jess Lipp and Aiden Evans scored twice. Lipp added an assist, while Evans scooped up three ground balls. 

Kaison Durham, Tyler Lieu, and Anthony Carusone each scored once. 

Mason Miller led the team with two assists, while Durham, Charlie Howenstine, and Gino Nave would also record one helper each. 

Freddy Noday led the team with 10 ground balls, while Gino Nave added five. Ian Zaletel and Christian Akins each picked up four loose balls, while Miller added three of his own. 

Capital got a caused turnover by Nave, Zaletel, Leelan Durham, and Eric Patterson. 

The two-man punch of Noday and Lieu again controlled the faceoff as the pair combined to go 23-of-27 from the dot. Noday was 13-of-15 and Lieu was 10-for-12. 

Wyatt Stemler made 13 saves in the cage, also picking up two ground balls. 

UP NEXT
Capital will be back home on Saturday, April 11th as they welcome Mount Union to Bernlohr Stadium for Senior Day. Opening faceoff is slated for 1 p.m.