Box Score The Case Western Reserve University Men's Soccer Team overcame a one-goal deficit at halftime to 24th-ranked Otterbein University, scoring a pair of goals in the second half to defeat the Cardinals 2-1 at DiSanto Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday.
The win was the Spartans' second straight against a 2021 NCAA Tournament qualifying team, as CWRU improved to 2-1-1 overall on the season. Otterbein suffered its first loss of the campaign, dropping to 2-1-0.
While the goals by junior defender Jad Oglesby and sophomore forward Kysen Kroeger put an exclamation point on the comeback, a solid defensive performance keyed the victory for the Spartans overall. CWRU's backfield allowed just three shots during the game. Senior keeper Jackson Kallen needed to make just one save in the game to earn his second win of the campaign.
CWRU fell behind in the 16th minute on a free-kick goal by Will Isaac and remained behind until the 59th minute of play. First-year midfielder Camden Larson created the scoring opportunity for the Spartans, launching a shot off the hands of the keeper that landed at the feet of Oglesby. Oglesby then converted the rebound into a goal, sending a return shot past the keeper for his first goal of the campaign. Larson was credited with the first assist of his career on the play.
The Spartans took their first lead of the game in the 71st minute, as junior midfielder Jacob Salmon crossed a ball through the six-yard box, that senior midfielder Sean Atwater was able to step over, allowing it to go through to Kroeger who finished with a shot past the keeper for the first goal of his career. Salmon earned his team-leading third assist of the campaign on the play, while Atwater claimed his first assist of the year.
CWRU's defense was able to hold on the rest of the way to secure the one-goal victory.
The Spartans will wrap up their three-game home stand on Wednesday, September 14, playing host to John Carroll University at 7:30 p.m. at DiSanto Field.
