ADA — The Ohio Northern men’s soccer team weathered a late-game comeback by the Battling Bishops and held on to defeat No. 12-ranked Ohio Wesleyan in double overtime, 4-3, on Wednesday at the ONU Soccer Field.

Junior Adam Ross’s goal 27 seconds into the second overtime gave the Polar Bears their first win over the Bishops in school history.

ONU improves to 8-3 with the win, while the loss drops OWU to 8-3.

This was the fourth straight regular season match against Ohio Wesleyan that has gone to overtime.

Last season, ONU snapped the Bishops’ 38-game regular season win streak with a 0-0 tie on Sept. 27, before losing 1-0 in the first round on the NCAA III Tournament on Nov. 11.

The Polar Bears led 2-0 with 10 minutes left, before four more goals were scored by the end of regulation.

ONU refused to let the momentum swing OWU’s way and picked up one of the Polar Bears biggest wins ever.

“It’s a great win for our program,” ONU head coach Brent Ridenour said. “Ohio Wesleyan has an unbelievable soccer tradition. I’m happy with the way we played until the end. We played hard tonight.”

With 9:57 left in regulation, Chad Baker got OWU on the board for the first time with a header goal off a cross.

A little under five minutes later ONU freshman keeper David Esser stopped a penalty kick attempt by OWU’s Nick Skoczen, but the ball deflected right back to Skoczen who was able to tie the game up.

Junior Ben Tarkany snagged the lead back when he scored off a Brian Bolibrzuch deflection at 86:47.

Down 3-2, Ohio Wesleyan stormed right back. Tyler Bryant headed in a Phil Serfaty cross to tie the game just 23 seconds later.

The Bishops held a 7-0 edge on shots in the first overtime, but Esser made three saves to push the game into a second extra period. Esser finished the game with a career-high nine saves.

ONU lead 1-0 at halftime after junior Ben Jackson headed in a Dan Otanicar throw-in at the 39:52 mark.

Senior Nick Farmwald made it 2-0 when he finished from three yards out 7:22 into the second half. Bolibrzuch and Ross assisted on the goal.

Northern held a 10-5 advantage in shots at halftime, but Wesleyan fired shot after shot in the second half and finished the game with a 28-21 edge.

Bishops keeper Jamison Dague made three saves , but gave up four goals

Ohio Northern begins OAC play this Saturday when it hosts John Carroll at 2 p.m. at the ONU Soccer Field in Ada.