GAMBIER, Ohio– In a foul-heavy, hard-fought battle at Mavec field, the Kenyon College men's soccer team drew level with Otterbein University in a 2-2 result on Tuesday evening. The tie moved the Owls to 4-1-3 on the season, while the Cardinals left with a 3-1-4 mark.
 
The match started cagey, with both sides trading possession and feeling out defensive structures. Otterbein nearly opened the scoring in the fifth minute when a pass from the left wing found space at the penalty spot. A Cardinal attacker quickly turned and shot, but the attempt was blocked by the Owls' backline before Goalkeeper Dominic Pratt pounced on the rebound. From there, chances came sparingly in the first half, as both defenses stood tall. By the break, Kenyon had four total shots, placing two on frame compared to Otterbein's three shots total with two on target.
 
The second half, however, erupted into a flurry of action. In the 54th minute, senior Robbie Stroebel hit a well-placed through ball to David Do. The freshman winger dazzled his defender with a pair of moves, cut inside the box, and fired a low-driven shot into the lower left corner to put Kenyon ahead 1-nil.
 
The lead didn't last long. Just a few minutes later, Otterbein equalized after a corner kick clearance fell to Nick Issac at the top of the 18. Flynn reacted quickly, drilling a first-time strike into the lower left corner to tie the game 1-1.
 
Momentum continued to swing. In the 63rd, Kenyon regained the lead through sheer persistence. After a free kick was blocked by the Cardinal wall, just outside the 18, senior Isaac Cortez reacted instantly to the rebound, smashing a first-time strike that ricocheted off the post and into the net for a 2-1 advantage.
 
The visitors answered once again in the 68th minute. A long-throw in served like a corner, bouncing through traffic before being nodded toward the back post. Kasedin Hale redirected the ball across the goal, where Lincoln Wallace poked it past Pratt for the equalizer. Neither side broke through again, leaving the game at 2-2.
 
Statistically, the game was as even as the score line. The Cardinals recorded 13 total shots with five on target while the Owls notched 12 total with four on target. Corners were split even at six and fouls defined much of the physical contest, with a combined 26 called– 14 against the Cardinals and 12 against the Owls. Seven yellow cards were distributed, four to Kenyon and three to Otterbein.
 
In goal, Pratt recorded three saves for Kenyon, securing the Owls' point in their eighth game of the season.
 
The Owls will now look ahead to a road contest as they travel to Ada, Ohio, to face Ohio Northern University on Saturday, September 27. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.