Tigers Drop Overtime Heartbreaker To DePauw

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers rallied late in both halves of regulation to force overtime, but visiting DePauw came up with the goal that mattered most to earn a 4-3 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory.

The loss snapped Wittenberg's four-game win streak and stymied the Tigers' hopes of moving back into contention for a home game in the four-team NCAC Tournament. Wittenberg dropped to 4-8 overall and 4-4 in the league, while DePauw improved to 8-3 overall and 7-1 in the NCAC, including a pair of wins over Wittenberg.

DePauw opened the scoring 6:42 into the game, and the visiting Tigers appeared to be on their way to a comfortable victory after scoring less than two minutes later. However, Wittenberg responded, first on a goal by sophomore Riley Trexler (Louisville, Ky./Atherton) in the 14th minute and dramatically in the final five seconds of the first half on a goal by freshman Blaine Donnelly (Hanover, Md./Archbishop Spalding).

Just 2:13 into the second half, DePauw broke the tie again. The host Tigers had numerous scoring opportunities before finally coming up with the answer in the 64th minute as Donnelly found the back of the cage again. Wittenberg had several more scoring chances denied in the closing moments, and then DePauw came up with the golden goal 10:56 into overtime after a series of penalty corners.

The final shot count was 17-13 in favor of DePauw, while each team finished with nine penalty corners in the game. In goal, junior Laura Jansing (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) was credited with seven saves in 69:37 off the bench.

Trexley, Donnelly and sophomore Audrey Coler (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) led Wittenberg with four shots each. Assists in the game went to senior Paige Vanerstrom (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), sophomore Maddie Goelz (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and freshman Isabella Wagner (Hilliard, Ohio/Bradley).

Written By: Ryan Maurer