Tigers Top Bethany For First Win Of 2014 Season

Three different players find the back of the cage to help Wittenberg post a 3-0 victory in its home opener.

Kelly McLean celebrates scoring the Tigers' first goal in a 3-0 victory over Bethany. Photo by Blake Nelson '17
Kelly McLean celebrates scoring the Tigers' first goal in a 3-0 victory over Bethany. Photo by Blake Nelson '17
August 31, 2014
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers made their 2014 debut at Edwards-Maurer Field a winning one, outshooting Bethany 37-9 en route to a 3-0 victory.

The win evened Wittenberg's record at 1-1 on the young season. The Tigers will now hit the road for their next four games - Wittenberg's next home appearance will be against Denison at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19.

While the Tigers controlled most of the early action, it took more than 20 minutes for Wittenberg to break through the Bethany defense. At the 20:12 mark of the first half, senior Kelly McLean (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook South) knocked home a shot from close range after a cross from senior Kim Loofbourrow (Prospect, Ky./Ballard).

In the 42nd minute, the Tigers gained some breathing room as sophomore Michelle Murray (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) scored off a rebound of a shot by senior Beth Warning (West Chester, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame). Warning then capped the scoring with a goal at the 60:40 mark off a feed from Loofbourrow.

Wittenberg's defense played well, stopping several promising Bethany scoring opportunities before they could fully develop. As a result, sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Brownell (Ocnomowoc, Wis./University Lake School) was forced into just one save en route to her first shutout of the season.

Wittenberg forced Bethany goalkeeper Tiffany McCary into 18 saves at the other end. Many of those shots were generated off the 20 penalty corners that the Tigers were awarded, compared to three for the Bison.