A Pair of Losses Costs Tigers a Playoff Berth

The Wittenberg Tigers and longtime head coach Steve Dawson rode the rollercoaster throughout the 2000 season but unfortunately pulled into the station at the bottom of the loop after a pair of NCAC losses last week that cost them a shot at the a berth in the first-ever postseason tournament.

The Tigers started off the week with a 3-1 loss on Wednesday at Earlham, another of the eight teams that entered the week battling for tourney bids. As usual, it was the team's struggles on offense that did them in. Wittenberg took 13 shots but managed just one second-half goal - by freshman Greg Zeller (Springfield, Ohio/North) off an assist from junior Steve Cassiere (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) - after spotting the host Quakers two goals.

Then on Saturday, following the annual Homecoming Weekend Alumni Game, the Tigers dropped a heart-breaking 2-0 decision to visiting Denison at Bill Edwards Field. Wittenberg took 18 shots, including 14 in a frenzied second half, but couldn't find the back of the net and lost out on the final NCAC tournament spot. Denison, by virtue of the win, advanced to this week's competition.

The Tigers ended the season with a winning record for the 13th time in Dawson's 18 seasons and the 11th time in the last 12 years. However, the sixth-place finish Wittenberg was relegated to by the two season-ending losses was the Tigers' lowest since joining the NCAC in 1989.

The stage may be set for more good things in 2001, however, as much of the team's nucleus returns. Among them are expected to be starting goaltender Danny Carman (Louisville, Ky./Male), Cassiere and defender Josh Curtis (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman), perhaps this defensive-minded team's most valuable player.