Westerville, Ohio- In their final out-of-conference matchup before North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play, the Denison women's soccer team fell 2-1 to Otterbein on the road. The Big Red drop to 5-3-2 for the season, while the Cardinals improve to 4-4-1. 

Denison dominated the first half of play, controlling the pace of the game, keeping most of the game in Otterbein's final third. The offensive pressure by the Big Red's frontline finally broke through in the 32nd minute of play, when Mattie Mielke settled a loose ball and shot the ball 20 yards out to find the back of the Cardinals' net, putting Denison up 1-0 before the half.

Unfortunately for the Big Red, the momentum shifted in favor of the home team in the second half. The Cardinals intensified their midfield pressure, forcing more one-on-one situations with the Denison backline, and, much like the Big Red's lone goal of the night, tied the game up at one in the 55th minute off a soaring ball of the back left post. With time winding down and the game ultimately resetting, Otterbein continued to find themselves inside the Denison goalie box. After a last-second save just in front of the goal line, first-year Caroline Hague had to face her first penalty kick of her career. Though the outcome of the PK favored the Cardinals and put them up 2-1, the Big Red continued to fight till the final whistle.

The two teams finished the night neck-and-neck in stats, with Denison holding a 14-13 edge in shots, and tallied five corners to the Cardinals' four. Molly Noga and Hague split time in goal for the Big Red, totaling a collective seven saves for the night. Otterbein's Catilin Drew finished the evening with four saves.

Up Next 

Denison travels to Delaware, Ohio, on Saturday, October 4, to face Ohio Wesleyan in their first NCAC matchup of the season. The Big Red and the Battling Bishops take to the field at 7 p.m.