Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College men's lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaking 13-12 decision to the visiting Otterbein University Cardinals on a rainy Tuesday night at the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex.
 
John Sutherland and Ian McCague each register a hat trick to lead the Yeomen attack, while rookie Tom Decker added five assists and a goal for six points in the setback. Sophomore goalie Calvin Filson turned away nine shots to run his season save total to 80.
 
The Yeomen got off to a quick start, scoring twice within the first two minutes of the game. McCague got the Yeomen on the board less than 90 seconds into the match as he finished off an assist from Regan Chasney. Less than 30 seconds later, Sutherland sent in his first goal of the game with the help of a Decker feed to stake the Yeomen to an early 2-0 lead.
 
The Cardinals answered back with three straight goals before Sutherland got the Yeomen back to even at 3-3 as he and Decker connected once more with 5:40 left to play in the first quarter.
 
The Cardinals took control of the match with four consecutive scores, but back-to-back Oberlin goals from David Martin and Joey Edell had the Yeomen within two with 6:51 left to play in the half, but the Cardinals' Drew McDonald cashed in the final goal of the frame to make it an 8-5 Otterbein advantage at the intermission.
 
The Yeomen dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 5-1 in the period to take a 10-9 lead into the final frame.  McCague and senior John Pierce got the run started before Sutherland followed with the equalizer at the 8:44 mark as he finished off yet another pass from Decker.
 
In the final 97 seconds of the third, rookie Thomas Berle Carman got on the board before McCague beat the buzzer from 15 yards to give the Yeomen a goal advantage.
 
Oberlin struck first in the fourth quarter as Decker's left-handed rifle made it an 11-9 Oberlin lead with 14:09 left to play. Unfortunately, the Cardinals would respond with four straight goals to reverse the two-score differential in their favor.
 
With 39 seconds to go, Berle Carman would send in a shot from the near wing as he finished off the fourth assist of the night from Chasney, but the Cardinals controlled the ensuing face-off and played keep-away until the final horn would sound.
 
The Cardinals ended with a 35-28 margin in shots and had a 32-28 advantage in ground balls. Otterbein also won 17 of the game's 28 face-offs. Decker matched Erik Zeug with a team-high five ground balls.
 
The loss dropped the Yeomen back to 5-4 on the year, while the Cardinals improved to 4-5.
 
The Yeomen are back in action on Friday night as they travel to the College of Wooster for an 8 p.m. conference clash.