WESTERVILLE – The Heidelberg University men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought 2-1 overtime match to Otterbein on Saturday to open OAC play. The Student Princes scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute, but the host Cardinals were able to sneak away with the victory with a golden goal in the second overtime period.

KEY STATS

Otterbein was able to escape with the 2-1 victory even with Heidelberg holding a 20-10 edge in shots for the match.

It was a very physical match by the Cardinals, as Otterbein had 23 fouls compared to just 12 committed by the Berg. Each team was issued a pair of yellow cards in the contest.

It was the fourth overtime match of the season for the Student Princes, as the previous three before today al ended in draws.

FIRST HALF

It was a quiet and balanced half across the board as neither squad was able to break through for a goal. Entering halftime, each team had recorded five shots.

SECOND HALF

Heidelberg looked to have found their offensive groove early in the second period, as they got off a pair of shots in the first five minutes, but neither were able to get past the keeper.

Despite the Berg's attack moving forward, Otterbein was the first to get on the scoreboard. In the 67th minute, Luis Rivas scored off a deflection by an HU defender to make it 1-0 in favor of the Cardinals.

Late in the match, the Berg was able to find the equalizer off of a corner kick by Porus Shroff. Sebastian Calderon gathered in the ball off the corner and found the back of the net to knot up the match at one. The goal was the first collegiate goal for Calderon.

Heidelberg got a shot on goal in the 90th minute by Kiki Alvarado, but Otterbein was able to make the save to force overtime. The Berg out-shot Otterbein 11-2 in the second half.

FIRST OVERTIME

There was not a lot of action to start overtime, as Heidelberg out-shot the Cardinals 3-1 in the period, but neither team scored.

SECOND OVERTIME

Shortly after Otterbein was booked with a yellow card in the 107th minute, Luis Rivas was able to get pas the Heidelberg defense on a breakaway and nestled the ball into the net just past Jake Kress to give the hosts the 2-1 win.

UP NEXT

Heidelberg will return home on Tuesday, October 6th, to take on Baldwin Wallace as they seek their first conference victory. That match is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. at the Hidden Valley Soccer Complex in Tiffin.