The 2002 men’s soccer team, which included three Academic All-Americans, became the first from Otterbein to reach the Final Four. While a memorable feat, fans and players will long remember the snowstorm that greeted them that Thanksgiving weekend in upstate New York. Final Four host St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. was hit by a huge snowstorm the night before the semifinals, forcing the matches to be moved to a lacrosse field with artificial turf. Snow continued to fall throughout the first half, but the Cardinals, under head coach Gerry D’Arcy, played on to earn a 3-2 win over Trinity University in the semifinals. In the championship match, Messiah College defeated Otterbein 1-0. The Cardinals won a school record 23 games in 2002, finishing the season with a 23-3-1 record, including 16 shutouts, which tied the school and Ohio Athletic Conference record. Otterbein swept through the OAC, winning both the regular season and tournament titles. Defender Mike Lochner, forward Angelo Manzo, and midfielder Jesse Rose earned Academic All-American honors, with Lochner being selected Academic All-America of the Year in the college division. Lochner also earned second team All-American honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.