Emma Rufleth

Jen Meyer

The Wittenberg field hockey team had an inspiring start to the 2002 season, winning its first four games and moving all the way to No. 13 in the first National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll on Sept. 10. The start is a replica of last season's, which led the Tigers to a 13-6 overall record, including a 10-2 NCAC mark and a second-place finish in the conference race.

In their first match of the season, the Tigers traveled to Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. and recorded a convincing shutout win. The 2-0 victory came courtesy of strikes from Emma Rufleth (Clinton, Conn./The Morgan School), who was playing in her first collegiate game as a freshman, and Deb Muller (Weston, Conn./The Millbrook School). Credit must also be shared with goaltender Jen Meyer (Solon, Ohio/Hathaway Brown), who recorded five saves in the shutout win.

The opening shutout wasn't repeated in the second match in a hard-fought game against NAIA program Lindenwood, also played at Rhodes. Rufleth continued her outstanding start by contributing a goal and an assist to the winning effort. Emily Duh (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley) continued her form from last season when she was a Regional All-American with the overtime winning goal after chipping in with two assists. The Tigers made it to overtime thanks to a goal by Katie Houchens (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver).

The Tigers' home opener was also the site of the first NCAC game of the season. Recovering from their previous overtime victory the Tigers recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Earlham. Goals in the game came courtesy of Houtchens, Muller and Duh, who also added an assist.

Duh continued to have the hot hand as she added two more goals - giving her four on the still-young season - in a 3-0 victory over NAIA visitor Houghton University. Junior Katie Babcock (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) also had a goal, her first of the season.

The Tigers, who have never had a losing record at any time during the last three seasons under Head Coach Marianne Beshara, now have outscored four quality opponents by a whopping 11-2 cumulative score. The program has 996 goals and 99 NCAC victories all-time, adding intrigue to Tuesday's showdown with perennial conference contender Denison.