A Tired Tiger Team Loses Regular-Season Finale

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - One day after capturing their third straight NCAC regular season championship, the Wittenberg Tigers were brought back down to reality. Lindenwood, a NAIA school, was able to do something that no other school has done all season...shutout the Wittenberg Tigers. An undoubtedly tired Wittenberg team was unable to get anything going offensively as they fell to the Lady Lions 1-0. The loss dropped the Tiger's record to 13-4 on the season.

The Wittenberg Tigers were given very little time to celebrate their third straight NCAC regular-season championship as they were back in action this afternoon. A day after taking Oberlin College into overtime and pervailing with a 2-1 victory, the Tigers faced another very tough opponent in NAIA foe, Lindenwood. The Lady Lions came out strong and controlled much of the game. They outshot the Tigers 18-10 and limited them to just two shots in the entire second half. Despite being tired the Wittenberg Tigers battled, just as they have done all season and kept themselves in the game. Freshman goalkeeper Nicole Irvin had eight great saves and senior Ashley Smith also made two huge defensive saves to keep the Tigers close. Had it not been for Lindenwood's controversial goal with three-minutes to go in the first half, these two team might still be playing. Lindenwood junior Megan Solley was credited with the game winning goal, despite shooting from what looked like to be behind the arc. It was unclear on whether or not the shot deflected off a Wittenberg defender's stick or not, so the goal stood.

The day was not all lost for the Wittenberg Tigers, as the team honored their five departing seniors. Seniors Sarah Wallace, Ashley Smith, Blair Ufer, Carrie Happ and Melanie Boss were all honored before the start of the game. In a brief ceremony the Tigers recognized these five great players and their numerous achievments throughout their careers here at Wittenberg. In their four years as Tigers, Wittenberg has gone 56-21 and 38-10 in the NCAC. They have won the NCAC regular season championship three times, the NCAC tournament championship twice, and have advanced to the NCAA tournament twice. It is unquestionable that these five ladies were the building blocks in making the Wittenberg field hockey team the powerhouse they are today. It will be hard to say goodbye to them and they will be missed, but they still have a few more things to do before they take off that jersey for the last time.

The good news for the Tigers is that they will live to see another day, a much more important day for that matter, this Wednesday when The College of Wooster comes to town for the opening game of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. Wittenberg the number-one seed in the tournament will face Wooster for the third time this season. The teams split the regular season match-ups, but the Tigers have beaten Wooster the past two seasons in the conference tournament. The game is scheduled for a 2 pm face off at the Tigers home field, Edwards-Maurer Stadium. The winner of this game will then square off against the winner of the Oberlin and Kenyon game on Saturday, November 6 in a game that will decide the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.