Hiram Breaks Out In Second Half To Subdue Tigers, 3-1

Wittenberg led most of the way, but Hiram closed the deal with three goals in the final 20 minutes.

Chris McCoy and his Tiger teammates led nationally ranked Hiram for most of the game before falling 3-1. File Photo | Erin Pence
Chris McCoy and his Tiger teammates led nationally ranked Hiram for most of the game before falling 3-1. File Photo | Erin Pence
October 6, 2012
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers nearly made an early lead stand up against 22nd-ranked Hiram, but the Terriers converted a pair of corner kick opportunities to spark a late-game three-goal outburst and secure a 3-1 victory.

The loss dropped the Tigers below .500 for the first time in 2012 at 5-6-2. Hiram remained unbeaten at 11-0-1.

Wittenberg started the scoring with a goal by senior Alejandro Garcia (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis) in the 20th minute. Senior Daniel Broidy (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) was one of several Tigers to string together extra effort in the offensive third to set the goal up. The ball eventually bounced off the Hiram goalkeeper's outstretched hands and onto the waiting foot of an on-rushing Garcia.

Wittenberg outshot Hiram 9-4 in the first half, but a ragged final five minutes set the stage for the Terriers' rally. Over the final 45 minutes, the shot count was a whopping 16-2 in favor of Hiram, even though it took more than 25 minutes for the Terriers to finally break through.

The first two goals were nearly identical as Hiram placed corner kicks into the box and Daniel O'Callaghan finished the both with headers. Ryan Greenhill put the game out of reach with a nifty header off a free ball near the top of the Wittenberg penalty area.

The late scoring barrage overshadowed a fine performance from sophomore goalkeeper Jeff Mengerink (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes), who made seven saves, including three from point-blank range during a flurry in front of Wittenberg's net midway through the second half.