Tigers Luck Runs Out

Nate Reed	Kyle Prussing

If it weren't for bad luck, the Tiger men's lacrosse team may have no luck at all. Wittenberg's losing streak hit five games last week with a defeat at nationally ranked Denison on Tuesday and a pair of frustrating home losses to Colorado College and Wheeling Jesuit over the weekend.

On Friday night, Wittenberg trailed visiting Colorado College 5-3 at halftime before the roof caved in. The Tigers were outscored 7-1 in a stunning third quarter and eventually succombed in this nonconference affair 13-5. The game, which included three assists by senior Alex Nichols (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney), was eventually called due to lightning in the area after a two-hour delay.

As if things couldn't get any worse, the Tigers were treated to a flashback to two earlier one-goal losses on Saturday against Wheeling Jesuit. The visiting Cardinals scored the winning goal in a 9-8 win with just 40 seconds remaining, spoiling another fine offensive effort by freshman Cory Essig (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and a strong game in net from junior Tripp Way (Wayne, Pa./Radnor).

The Tigers, who have lost five games this season by three goals or less and three by a single goal, will attempt to rebound this week, but the rest of the schedule is very challenging. On Wednesday, Wittenberg travels to Ohio Wesleyan for a game against the nationally ranked Bishops. On Saturday, the Tigers will square off against Wooster in a conference game just two weeks after the Scots won a nonconference tilt between the two teams on a bizarre goal with just one second remaining. Next week, Kenyon comes calling for a nonconference game and then Ohio Wesleyan visits in the season finale.