Wittenberg Squanders Opportunities; Suffer Second Straight Conference Loss
The Wittenberg Tiger men's soccer team came into the week with a sparkling 4-1 record in North Coast Athletic Conference play. Sitting in a tie for second place, the Tigers were in the driver's seat moving towards postseason play. However, it seems as if the Tigers may have a flat tire after suffering their second straight overtime loss to a conference foe.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tiger men's soccer team came into the week with a sparkling 4-1 record in North Coast Athletic Conference play. Sitting in a tie for second place, the Tigers were in the driver's seat moving towards postseason play. However, it seems as if the Tigers may have a flat tire after suffering their second straight overtime loss to a conference foe. After losing a heartbreaking double-overtime game earlier in the week, the Tigers were hoping to rebound against the Yeomen of Oberlin College. However, the Yeomen have their own postseason plans and they took one step closer as they let a little more air out of the Tiger's tires, with a 1-0 victory in overtime.
On a wet and soggy field, both teams struggled to find any form of offense. The two teams were fairly even statistically as Wittenberg attempted 20 shots to Oberlin's 14. A majority of Wittenberg's opportunities came in the second half as they outshot the Yeomen 14-6. Wittenberg saw a number of those shots deflect off either the goal post or the Yeomen goalie. The Tiger's biggest opportunity came at the 87:00 minute mark, as sophomore Brian Mutton received a penalty kick after being fouled in the goalie box. Mutton sent a blazing ball towards the left corner of the Yeomen net, but the Oberlin goalie guessed correctly and made a beautiful diving save. Wittenberg recovered the rebound but their shot sailed over the goal. After missing on those two opportunities late in the game, the action shifted into overtime. With three minutes left in the first overtime period, Josh Treuhaft from Oberlin was able to break away for a one-on-one opportunity with Wittenberg goalie, freshman Ben McAnnis-Entenman. Treuhaft's shot sailed just over a diving McAnnis-Entenman to give the Yeomen the 1-0 victory. Despite giving up the loan goal, Mcannis-Entenman turned in another solid performance in the net for Wittenberg finishing with eight saves.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 7-9 on the season and even more importantly it dropped them to 4-3 in the NCAC. The Tigers close out the season next week against North Coast Athletic Conference foes Denison and Wooster, both teams of which are ranked in the nation. The Tigers are back in action next Tuesday, October 26 when they will travel to Denison to take on the Big Red.