Lady Pioneers and Cardinals set for an important OAC showdown this afternoon
Today's game is a Student-Athlete Advisory Council Blue Alert

Oct. 18, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio –The Marietta women’s soccer team welcomes No. 8 Otterbein to Marietta Field Tuesday (Oct. 19) for its most anticipated OAC match-up of the season. Kickoff is slated for 4 pm. on Marietta Field.

The Pioneers (13-1-1, 4-1 OAC) and the Cardinals (12-1, 5-0 OAC) are batting for first place in the league at the midway-point of the season. A win today by Marietta would allow it to regain a share of first place and give it the tiebreaker over Otterbein if the two teams end the season tied atop the OAC standings.

Marietta is looking to rebound from its first blemish of the season, a 1-0 heartbreaking-loss to John Carroll on Saturday. The Blue Streaks were able to break the scoreless tie with only six seconds left on the clock to capture the upset.

The Pioneers continue to be led by a balance of seniors and underclassmen. Senior Amy Lehosit (Pickerington) paces the scoring with seven goals and six assists, while freshman Jessica Martinez (Strongsville/Magnificat) has added six goals and an assist on the year. In addition, senior Emilee Knowlton (Marietta), junior Jill Sorboro (Cuyahoga Falls), sophomore Vanessa Nicholls (Cornwall, ONT) and freshman Allison Williams (Fisher, IN/Hamilton Southeastern) have all collected double-digit points on the season.

Senior goalkeeper Bethany Blahnik (Mansfield/Ontario) continues to be a huge thorn in opponents’ sides, allowing just six goals through 15 games. She has collected 75 saves, a 0.39 GAA and 10 shutouts in 1375 minutes.

Marietta has a tough challenge ahead of itself on the field today, as Otterbein enters the game as the eighth-ranked team in the nation. The Cardinals have a 10-game win streak and their only loss of the year came against No. 12 Denison.

Otterbein is led offensively by juniors Jenna Brader (eight goals and seven assists) and Karen Beers (nine goals and three assists). Senior Katie Chrien, Otterbein’s goalkeeper, has allowed nine goals and made 42 saves in 1,052 minutes this season. 

Today's game has been designated as a Blue Alert by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. A Blue Alert happens when an athletic team identifies an upcoming game as its biggest game of the season and it needs a big crowd to cheer it to victory. There will be one Blue Alert for each sport.