Tigers Stunned In Overtime By Visiting Wooster

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg field hockey team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 double overtime loss to North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Wooster at Edwards-Maurer Field. 

The afternoon started with a brief recognition of Wittenberg's three international Tigers hailing from The Netherlands - freshmen Alexandra Bruins Slot (Haarlem, The Netherlands/ Stedelijk Gymnasium), Robin Gevers (Beilen, The Netherlaands/ Dr. Nassau College) and Pien Tamboer (Hekelingen, The Netherlands/ Wolfert van Borselen). In honor of their contributions to the program in their lone Wittenberg, the Dutch national anthem was played before the game.

The good vibes carried over into the first half as the Tigers got on the board just 30 seconds into the game. The Tigers' first goal came from freshman Blaine Donnelly (Hanover, Md./Archbishop Spalding) off a feed from sophomore Riley Trexler (Louisville, Ky./Atherton). With stout defense from the Wittenberg back line and junior goalkeeper Laura Jansing (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame), the Tigers held that lead through the intermission. 

The Scots finally found their way through the Wittenberg defense and onto the scoreboard to tie the game with a goal by Maeven Barry at the 51:18 mark. As many Wittenberg chances went unrealized, including a shot cleared off the goal line by a Wooster defender late in the first half,  the Tigers suffered heartbreak less than one minute into the second overtime as Leah Prescott capitalized off a Rose Taylor pass.

Wittenberg led the game in almost every statistical category on the day, including 28 shots to Wooster's 11, and 15 penalty corners to the Scots' 3. The Tigers dropped to 5-10 overall on the season and 5-6 in the NCAC, making the final three league games must-wins for Wittenberg to reach the four-team, season-ending conference tournament.

Written By: AJ Meyer '15