Tigers Race Past Concordia In Program's Inaugural Varsity Contest

Will Emery

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers had no trouble with the elements on a cold, windy, rainy afternoon, or their opponent, first-year program, Concordia (Wisc.) University, recording a dominating 21-1 victory.

The win moved the Tigers to 4-0 on the young season, heading into a week of training in Florida that will be capped by a game in Clearwater, Fla. against Birmingham Southern at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Concordia was playing its first-ever varsity men's lacrosse game.

Wittenberg scored the game's first 16 goals before Concordia finally scored the program's first-ever goal 41 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Tigers answered with five more goals to account for the final margin.

Not only did Wittenberg dominate on the scoreboard, but they decisively captured every statistical category. The Tigers outshot Concordia 61-17, picked up 44 ground balls to 17 for the Falcons and they won 23 of the game's 27 face-offs, including all nine in the fourth quarter. In addition, Wittenberg was a perfect 15-of-15 in clear attempts.

Individually, the Tigers' leading scorer was freshman Jack Bornhofen (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh) with four goals and an assist. Three players scored three goals in the game: seniors Matt Snider (Cookeville, Tenn./Cookeville) and Mitch Cohagan (Pickerington, Ohio/North) and sophomore Tyler Hall (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Twp.), while seniors Brady Christensen (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and Matt Lord (Pickerington, Ohio/North) added two apiece. Christensen also finished with four assists and Lord contributed three helpers.

Junior Elliot Avis (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) was responsible for all 27 face-offs, and he also picked up eight ground balls. Also of note, sophomore Alex Previte (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) added four ground balls and junior Will Emery (Columbus, Ohio/The Wellington School) chipped in with three ground balls and a game-high four caused turnovers off the bench.