The eighth-ranked Case Western Reserve University women's soccer team overcame a first-half deficit to defeat Otterbein University 2-1 at Memorial Stadium in Westerville, Ohio on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans remained undefeated on the season with the win, improving to 5-0-1 overall. The victory also extended the Spartans' regular season non-conference unbeaten streak to 39 straight matches. The Cardinals fell to 3-2-0 with the loss.
Otterbein struck first in the 33rd minute, scoring on a goal by Payton Kaufman.
With 28 seconds left in the first half, sophomore midfielder Mackenzie Mueller tied the score at one with her first goal of the season. She raced an Otterbein defender to the ball at the top of the box, dribbled a few steps, and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one with a shot in the lower right corner. It was the fourth goal of her career.
Just 10 minutes into the second half, CWRU took the lead with a goal by senior midfielder/forward Helina VanBibber. Junior forward Carolyn Koutures had the ball in the far corner of the field and delivered a cross into the middle of the box. VanBibber was on the other end, diving to head the ball into the back of the net. It was her second goal of the season and the 16th of her career. Koutures earned her fifth career assist and first this season.
The Spartans' defense, which allowed just seven total shots and a pair on goal, would hold the lead for the remainder of the game. CWRU finished the contest with 18 shots, including nine on goal. Sophomore midfielder Ceci Dapino led all Spartans with four shots, while sophomore forward Molly Shamah came off the bench to take three shots, all of which were on goal.
Senior goalkeeper Maggie Storti played all 90 minutes in goal and earned the win to improve to 5-0-1 on the year with a 0.50 goals against average.
CWRU returns to DiSanto Field tomorrow for Senior Day when the Spartans face the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin Wallace University at 1 p.m. Prior to the match, the team will recognize six of its graduating members: Grace Bratter, Rebecca Hammill, Sumera Sandhir, Alyssa Soltis, Sydney Stone, and Storti.
