Tigers Explode In Second Half, Top Wooster For First-Ever NCAC Title
After losing a two-goal lead late in the first half to visiting Wooster, the Wittenberg Tigers were in need of a spark.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — After losing a two-goal lead late in the first half to visiting Wooster, the Wittenberg Tigers were in need of a spark. They got it in the form of sophomore Michael Cocking (St. Louis, Mo./CBC), who scooped up a loose ball off the second half face-off, raced downfield and broke a 3-3 tie with his first goal of 2010 season.
Thirty minutes off the game clock later and the Tigers were able to call themselves North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) champions for the first time in program history. An 11-4 victory over the Scots secured at least a share of the title, with one game left to play against second-place Ohio Wesleyan on May 5. The Battling Bishops, who the Tigers have not beaten since men's lacrosse was reinstated as a varsity sport in 1983, can earn a share of the crown with a win in that game.
Saturday's win moved Wittenberg to 9-3 overall and 4-0 in the NCAC. Wooster dropped to 8-6 overall and 3-2 in the conference.
Wooster started the scoring with the lone goal of the first quarter, but the Tigers scored three unanswered to open the second quarter. The Scots bounced back to score the last two goals of the half and force a 3-3 tie at the intermission.
Enter Cocking, who scooped the ball up after Elliott Avis (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) won the face-off. He raced downfield and fired an off-balance shot just 10 seconds into the period. It was the first of eight straight goals by the Tigers, including five in the decisive third period.
Wittenberg dominated the final 30 minutes, outshooting Wooster 36-11 and picking up 16 ground balls to the Scots' seven. Tiger goalkeeper Mark DeOliveira (East Hanover, NJ/East Hanover) was credited with eight saves in the game, but he was not forced into any stops in the third frame.
Offensively, senior Ted Winders (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) and junior Matt Lord (Pickerington, Ohio/North) led Wittenberg with three goals apiece, while junior Mitch Cohagan (Pickerington, Ohio/North) added a pair of tallies. Junior Matt Snider (Cookeville, Tenn./Cookeville) led with two assists.
Snider, Avis and Cocking picked up four ground balls each to lead the way in that department.