DELAWARE, Ohio - An own goal in the 81st minute lifted the Case Western Reserve University women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory at Ohio Wesleyan University on Tuesday evening at the Jay Martin Soccer Complex. 

The Spartans (6-4) win their third match in a row heading into conference play, while the Battling Bishops drop to 3-7 with the loss. 

In the first half, the Spartans applied pressure early and often beginning with five shots in the opening 10 minutes. Overall, Case outshot the hosts 12-7 in the first 45, but neither side was able to find the back of the net. The onslaught of Spartan shots forced seven first-half saves from OWU goalkeeper Hannah Zacharias. 

The second period took on a similar identity, and after 16 more shots, the Spartans appeared to break through in the 80th minute. However, a shot by sophomore forward Kiley Armstrong (Sylvania, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) hit the post. 

Undaunted, the Spartans kept the heat on and finally beat Zacharias at 80:15 following a corner kick from senior forward Leah Levey (Columbus, Ohio/Bexley). Junior forward Jessie Sabers (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) briefly collected a loose ball that eventually deflected off of a Battling Bishop defender into the net. 

Overall, the Spartans tied a season high with 32 shots compared to just 10 for OWU. Case also led in corner kicks, 7-4.   

In goal, junior Abbey Smith (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty), the reigning University Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week, needed just two saves. Zacharias finished with 13 for the Battling Bishops. 

The Spartans return to action in the 2013 UAA opener this Saturday, October 5 versus Brandeis University at 1:30 p.m. at Case Field.