Otterbein Outlasts ONU in Penalty Kicks, Wins Second Straight OAC Tournament Title

11/9/2025 5:45:10 PM

ADA, Ohio – The 2025 Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament Championship was a hard-fought battle between the top two seeds that needed more than a full game and two overtime periods to determine the title. After 110 minutes of scoreless play, No. 2-seeded Otterbein University Cardinals outlasted top-seeded Ohio Northern University Polar Bears with a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks to clinch the OAC Tournament crown on Sunday, November 9, at ONU's Kerscher Stadium.

Otterbein's victory marked the program's second straight OAC Tournament Championship and eighth overall OAC Tournament title. The Cardinals finished second in the standings behind the regular-season OAC Champion Polar Bears, who both earned first-round byes in the OAC Tournament. Otterbein and ONU also met up in last season's OAC Tournament, with the Cardinals advancing by the same 5-4 penalty-kick margin in a 1-1 semifinal matchup.

After defending their OAC Tournament Championship, the Cardinals punched a second straight ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Otterbein's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer tournament will mark the program's 10th appearance on the national stage. The entire 64-team field will be revealed on Monday, November 10, at 11:30 a.m.on NCAA.com via the selection show.

#2 Otterbein (11-2-6) 0, #1 Ohio Northern (12-0-7) 0 -- OTT advances on penalty kicks, 5-4

On a day where offense was hard to come by, Otterbein first-year goalkeeper Jayden Burdine (Pickerington, OH / Pickerington North) helped the Cardinals clinch the championship with seven saves, including the decisive save on the first shot of the penalty kick shootout.
ONU had one of the game's best chances on a penalty kick in the 49th minute, but Burdine blocked Aidan McMahon's (Naperville, IL / North) attempt to maintain the clean sheet.
Otterbein had a few chances to score in regulation and overtime, and OAC Freshman of the Year Lincoln Wallace (Delaware, OH / Olentangy Berlin) led the Cardinals with four shots and two shots on goal.
Sophomore keeper Carson Zurmehly (Batavia, OH / McNicholas) stood strong in goal for the Polar Bears for 110 minutes, recording three saves.
Drew Boettcher (Centerville, OH / Centerville), Nick Isaac (Grove City, OH / Grove City), Xavier Stocks (Cincinnati, OH / Archbishop Moeller), and Jacob Irani (Grove City, PA / Grove City) all converted their penalty kicks before Wallace won the game with the fifth and final score.
For ONU, OAC Midfielder of the Year Gage Foster's (Mason, OH / Mason) opening penalty was saved before McMahon, Miles Armstrong (Marysville, OH / Marysville), Joe Roberts (Carroll, OH / St. Charles), and Ignacio Ciotta (Manhattan, IL / Lincoln-Way West) connected on their penalty shots.
Overall, ONU outshot Otterbein 20-15, including a 7-4 edge in shots on goal, while the Cardinals held an 8-6 advantage in corner kicks.

The OAC All-Tournament team will be announced by Monday, November 10, as coaches submit their nominations. The All-Tournament team will be comprised of four players from the championship team (Otterbein), three from the runner-up (Ohio Northern), two from each of the non-advancing semifinalists (the University of Mount Union and Wilmington College), and one from each of the non-advancing quarterfinalists (Baldwin Wallace University and Capital University).

All-Tournament Team

TBA, Otterbein

TBA, Ohio Northern

TBA, Mount Union

TBA, Wilmington

TBA, Baldwin Wallace

TBA, Capital