Alaina Casey’s goal hands Women’s Soccer fourth OAC Tournament championship

By Wes Mayberry

WESTERVILLE — An early second-half goal from sophomore Alaina Casey (Beavercreek/Carroll) was all the Ohio Northern women's soccer team needed to defeat Otterbein 1-0 and win the 2021 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament championship on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Saturday's victory improves the Polar Bears to 13-4-3 overall and earns them an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

ONU's tournament destination and opponent will be announced during the NCAA Selection Show on NCAA.com Monday beginning at 1 p.m.

This marks the Polar Bears' fourth OAC Tournament championship in program history after winning it in 2012, 2017 and 2019.

The No. 2 seed Polar Bears have Casey, senior goalkeeper Kristy Catrine (Springboro) and some strong defensive play to thank for it.

In a rematch of the past three OAC Tournament finals, the top-seeded Cardinals (15-3-0 overall) out-shot ONU 12-10 but were unable to find the back of the net.

After a scoreless first half, Casey got a shot past Otterbein goalkeeper Alaina Reher, the OAC leader in GAA and fewest goals allowed this season, just 53 seconds into the second half.

The ball found its way to Casey off of a deflected shot from a teammate, and she found the back of the net off a high-right shot.

The Cardinals out-shot ONU 9-1 the rest of the way but were unable to deny the Polar Bears their 13th shutout of the season and the OAC-leading 12th for Catrine, who finished with four saves.

Otterbein, whose only conference loss this season came at the hands of ONU, had a pair of shots in the waning minutes as it attempted to tie the score.

A shot from Delaney Earl, the OAC's co-leader in points, was saved by Catrine with 2:08 remaining, and Morgan Somers' shot was blocked with 1:20 left.