Benny Spirk’s blast from 20 yards out gave the Wilmington College men’s soccer team a 1-0 win over Otterbein Wednesday in Ohio Athletic Conference play at Townsend Field.
The win lifts the Quakers to 8-6 overall and 3-3 in the OAC.
The Cardinals are now 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the OAC.
Otterbein had, for the most part, the better of the play in this one. The Cardinals held an 8-2 edge in corner kicks and a 10-9 advantage in shots on goal.
After a scoreless first half, Wilmington kicked up the pressure in the second 45. Spirk came off Alex Van der Sluijs’ bench in the 62nd minute.
Two minutes later, Spirk had a shot but Otterbein responded. WC goalkeeper Felix Maurer kept the match scoreless with a pair of saves.
Otterbein was whistled for offside at 78:24. Wilmington turned things the other way quickly and at 78:57 Spirk ripped one through defenders from 20 yards out to score the only goal of the match.
Wilmington’s defensive effort in the closing minutes kept the Cardinals in a one-goal deficit.