BEREA, Ohio – Celebrating Seniors' and Parents' Day, the Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer team needed overtime to defeat Otterbein University 1-0 for a crucial Ohio Athletic Conference victory. 

 

Before the game, the Yellow Jackets took time to honor the commitment and dedication given to the program by the team's seven seniors: forward Jacquelyn Brown (Tallmadge), Academic All-OAC defender Jenny Burdick (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca), All-OAC midfielder Alex Elliott (Blacklick/IMG Academy), Academic All-OAC defender Lauren Haynam (Minerva), forward/defender Kori Miller (North Olmsted/Holy Name), All-OAC and Academic All-OAC midfielder Anna Poptic (Dublin/Jerome) and All-OAC forward Courtney Schutz (Mentor). With the help of those seven seniors, Baldwin Wallace has continued to grow and challenge in the Ohio Athletic Conference. 

 

Senior Day meant a little more to Elliott as she was able to start in one final game despite getting injured a few weeks ago and missing the past three games. The senior midfielder took the opening kick before being subbed out to a standing ovation by the fans and hugs from her teammates. 

 

The first 90 minutes played out mostly in the midfield as both teams battled for possession. Both the Cardinals and the Yellow Jackets had solid defensive performances that held both offenses at bay. Sophomore midfielder Kenna Poptic (Dublin/Jerome) subbed into the game in the 37th minute to play center back for the first time all season and helped to solidify the back line.

 

Otterbein held the advantage in shots taken during regulation 14-9 while sophomore goalkeeper Emma Bruno (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bethel Park) made some key saves to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard and send the game into overtime. 

 

As minutes ticked by in overtime, neither team could really penetrate the other's defense to get a good look at goal. A pass by junior forward Marissa Fabrizi (Brunswick) found its way up to Anna Poptic who got around a diving goalkeeper and into the left corner of the net for the game winner. 

 

With the win, BW now moves to 11-5-1 and 4-2-1 in the OAC while Otterbein drops to 10-4-1 and 3-4 in conference. The Yellow Jackets remain in a tie for third place with the University of Mount Union while the Cardinals sit in a tie for sixth with Heidelberg University. The top six teams at the end of the regular season all earn spots in the OAC Tournament. 

 

BW will hit the road for the remainder of the season with its first stop being in Ada to take on OAC-leading Ohio Northern University on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.