WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Marietta College women's lacrosse led at the half, but faded in the second to lose a pivotal away matchup to Otterbein University, 15-11, on Wednesday (April 8).  With the victory, and more importantly the goal differential, the Pioneers have put themselves in a possible playoff scenario.  With the loss the Pioneers fall to 6-6 overall, 1-2 in Ohio Athletic Conference play. With the win the Cardinals improve to 9-3, 3-0 in the OAC.  
 
"What a fight from everyone tonight," said Head Coach Lindsay Reho. "I am so proud of the 60 minutes of lacrosse today, regardless of the final score. The team showed heart and grit today and for that I could not be more pleased. We have another opportunity coming our way to get back in the win column next week and the team is hungry!"

Both teams played a close first quarter in this must-win game, but the Pioneers got on the scoreboard first midway through as Lydia McCarter (Fort Mill, S.C./Catawba Ridge) scored a goal off of an assist from Moly Dickens.  Otterbein sent 10 shots on goal during the quarter, but could only squeak one score through at the 5:05 mark in the period as Alyssa Glenn got the unassisted goal.  Renee Mulvaney (Midland, Mich./Midland) was able to send a shot into the goal in the closing minutes and the Pioneers took a 2-1 score into the second period.  
 
Marietta scored quickly in the beginning moments of the period as Mallory Wiles (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) scored off of yet another assist from Dickens.  The Cardinals cut the lead back to one again as Glenn got a score, but Marietta answered quickly as Wiles scored on a free position goal.  Mulvaney gave the Pioneers a goal with less than four minutes in the expand the lead, but the Cardinals countered with a score from Leela Henry at the 2-minute mark. The final goal of the period was a free position goal scored by Mulvaney and the Pioneers led Otterbein 6-3 at the half.
 
Otterbein showed some comeback spirit in the third quarter, delivering a pair of goals in the opening minutes to cut the lead to one.  Marietta answered with a pair of goals from Dickens to again expand the lead to three, but the Cardinals spent the final five minutes of the quarter on a scoring spree.  Otterbein got five scores during the span, two from Glenn and two from Dakota Klein, and led 11-8 going into the final period.  
 
With their backs against the wall, the Pioneers scored first in the fourth period as Fiona Betzold (Metamora, Mich./Oxford) got a crucial score to cut the lead to two.  Otterbein answered with a pair of scores to extend the lead to four with 9:42 remaining.  Running out of time, Maddie Heyboer (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville) added a score for the Pioneers, but the Cardinals added an insurance score with three minutes remaining and went on to claim the 15-11 OAC victory.

Tessa Labrasciano (Brandon, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior) played all 60 minutes in the net for the Pioneers and faced 31 shots on goal, making 16 saves.

Mulvaney led the Pioneers with four goals.  Dickens and Wiles added two goals and three assists apiece.  Dickens also led with four groundballs two caused turnovers.  McCarter collected four draw control to the lead the Pioneers.
 
The Pioneers return to action next Wednesday (Apr. 15) as host OAC foe Muskingum University for a 7 p.m. battle at Marietta Field. 

Fans can follow all of the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.