GAMBIER, Ohio – The visiting Otterbein University men's soccer team put a brief scare into the hearts of the Kenyon College faithful by taking an early 1-0 lead in Friday evening's home-opening contest for Kenyon College. The deficit proved to be a wake-up call for the No. 9-ranked Lords, who knew how to respond and rallied for a 3-1 non-conference victory.

Otterbein (0-2) kept the ball in the Kenyon zone for most of the first 20 minutes of play and ended up taking three of the game's first four shots. The last of those three shots found the back of the net and put the Cardinals up 1-0 at the 19:39 mark. The goal was scored when Ross Pfeil sent in a corner kick. The kick was headed back out of the box, where it was met by Josh Kellner. After one big bounce, Kellner ripped his shot past Kenyon keeper Sam Clougher, a junior who gave up just seven goals in 22 games last season.

Although Kenyon (2-0) turned up the pressure after that goal, the Cardinals' lead held up at halftime. The Lords had two great opportunities to tie things up, but Otterbein starting goalkeeper Mack Stamper stuffed Woo Jeon at point-blank range and then robbed Brice Koval on a breakaway.

The chances kept coming for the Lords in the second half and this time they took advantage. At the 60:45 mark, junior Tony Amolo was fouled in the box and converted his penalty kick to knot things at one apiece. A little less than three minutes later, Amolo struck again. This time Jeon fed him a pass at the right side of the box. Amolo struck a low ball at a sharp angle and gave the Lords their first lead. That goal was Amolo's third of the season and the 28th of his career, putting him eighth among Kenyon's all-time leaders.

The icing on the cake came at the 82:23 mark, when sophomore Oliver Wynn and junior Aaron Salm worked the right side of the box again. Wynn provided the assist and Salm slammed home his first goal of the season and the second of his career.

The Lords evenly split 22 shots between the two halves. Otterbein managed just the three shots in the first half and four more in the second. Clougher wound up making two saves, while Stamper made three before exiting at halftime. Lukas Swysgood took Stamper's place between the pipes in the second half, made three more saves, but also yielded three goals to suffer the loss.

The Lords have one day of rest before they return to Mavec Field on Sunday to battle with Heidelberg University, a team they eliminated from the first round of the NCAA Tournament one season ago.