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Katy Barrett

For the Wittenberg field hockey team it's essentially down to a two-game season - even though there are three games remaining on the 2004 schedule. The Tigers stand alone atop the North Coast Athletic Conference standings heading into crucial games the next two Saturdays that will determine this season's ultimate success.

That starts with this weekend's contest at Kenyon, one of several teams jockeying for position below the Tigers in the NCAC standings. The Ladies figure to be very tough for the Tigers on their home turf, despite appearances created by last month's 5-0 Wittenberg home win over Kenyon. After a week off, the Tigers then head north to Oberlin for a key match-up with the Yeowomen, who are just one game back in the standings.

At least the Tigers control their own destiny. That is the case because of outstanding performances like a 2-1 win over Oberlin on Oct. 8, a 5-1 win over Centre on Oct. 9, a 5-0 win over Denison on Oct. 13 and an 8-0 win over Earlham on Oct. 21. The only loss during that stretch came at Wooster on Oct. 16 by a 4-1 score.

The Tigers boast three of the top offensive players in the conference, all of whom have been decorated for their outstanding play in recent weeks. Senior midfielder Blair Ufer (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) leads the team and ranks among the NCAC's best with 35 total points, 13 goals and nine assists on the season, including a record-tying five-goal performance in the win over Denison. In scoring all five goals of the game for either team, Ufer tied a 20-year-old NCAC record and came within two of Wittenberg's record that was established in 1979 by Athletics Hall of Honor inductee Lois Raimondo.

Junior forward Julia Wickham (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview) had a breakout performance of her own, scoring four times in the whitewashing of Earlham to run her season totals to 11 goals and 24 points. She was named NCAC Player of the Week on Oct. 3 for her outstanding play.

Finally, sophomore forward Katy Barrett (Powell, Ohio/Watterson) has exceeded her team-leading 24 points of a year ago with 12 goals and 26 total points. She was named NCAC Player of the Week and earned national recognition from womensfieldhockey.com on its Division III Honor Roll for scoring five goals in two games last week.

As a team, Wittenberg has outscored its opponents 52-12 on the season, putting a pair of school records within range. The record for goals scored is 66 and the record for fewest goals allowed is 16. With three games left, including a season finale against Lindenwood on Oct. 31, plus postseason play the following week, both records are in jeopardy.