Wittenberg Falls To Chicago, 4-0 In First Round Of NCAA Division III Tournament
In search of another deep run into the NCAA Division III Tournament, the Wittenberg women's soccer team saw their season cut short with a 4-0 loss to the University of Chicago in a match played at Calvin College. The Maroons from the UAA turned in a pair of goals in each stanza to pull away and advance to the second round to take on the host Calvin Knights.
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Taylor Goss moves the ball upfield against Chicago.
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - In search of another deep run into the NCAA Division III Tournament, the Wittenberg women's soccer team saw their season cut short with a 4-0 loss to the University of Chicago in a match played at Calvin College. The Maroons from the UAA turned in a pair of goals in each stanza to pull away and advance to the second round to take on the host Calvin Knights.
On a day where the Wittenberg offense struggled to manufacture many attempts on the Chicago goal, it would ultimately be the Mroons that made sure that the contest would not remain a scoreless deadlock for very long. A Siggy Nachtergaele goal in the 24th minute opened the slate for Chicago. A cross into the box eluded the Tiger defense and found the Maroon who made sure not to make a mistake in giving the early goal to the region's number-two seed.
Right before halftime, the deficit would be doubled, as Sarah Loh fired home a rebound after a Chicago corner kick. The Tigers would see that 2-0 score heading into the intermission, after they had been outshot by Chicago 9-3 in the first 45 minutes.
In the second half, the Tigers looked to turn the tables, claiming a 9-3 advantage in shots on the Maroons, but could not pull a goal back. The trouble would deepen for the Red and White in the 54th minute when Nachtergaele had her hand in another goal, this time finding teammate Brooke Bontz for a 3-0 advantage.
Closing out the scoring for Chicago in the 77th minute was Haleigh Stopa to solidify a 4-0 victory for Chicago in the NCAA tournament lid-lifter.
Jordan Bamberger (Solon, Ohio/Solon) closed out her career with five saves on the afternoon. Fellow seniors Suzanne Medwid (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), Lauren Johnson (Huntsville, Ala./Hilliard Davidson), Jamie Mack (Rochester, NY/Penfield), Corey Shubitowski (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson) and Kristy Parker (Hamilton, Ohio/Ross) played in the final contest in a Tiger uniform.
The Tigers end the season with a 11-4-6 mark after claiming their third consecutive NCAC tournament title. It also marks the third consecutive NCAA Division III tournament appearance for Norm Riker's women.
Written By: Ben Bradley, SID Assistant
Photo courtesy Calvin Sports Information