Carrie Happ
The Wittenberg field hockey team holds its destiny in its own hands this weekend. The Tigers come into a Saturday game at Oberlin with a 12-3 overall record, including a mark of 8-3 in the NCAC, good for a first-place tie with the Yeowomen.
A win over Oberlin puts the Tigers alone atop the NCAC regular season standings and gives Wittenberg home field advantage for the NCAC Tournament, which the Tigers have captured each of the last two years. Home field advantage is key for Wittenberg since the Tigers haven't lost at Edwards-Maurer Field since 2001.
The Tigers figure to be well-rested for the Oberlin contest since they haven't played since last Saturday's 2-1 loss at Kenyon. Sophomore forward Katy Barrett (Powell, Ohio/Watterson) scored the first goal of the game, but the Tigers were unable to keep the momentum and gave up one goal just before halftime and the game-winner midway through the second stanza.
In other news, senior midfielder Blair Ufer (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) has been selected to participate in the prestigious National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III North/South Senior All-Star game, and senior defender Carrie Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Vincentian) has been chosen as an alternate for the game. The annual event is scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, on the campus of Westfield State College in Westfield, Mass.
Ufer is putting together her fourth consecutive outstanding season. In 74 career games, she has 23 goals and 26 assists for 72 total points, including team highs of 13 goals, 10 assists and 36 total points in 2004. Ufer scored five goals in a 5-0 win over Denison on Oct. 13, which tied a 20-year-old conference record.
Ufer was a first-team All-NCAC honoree in 2002 and 2003, and last year she added first-team All-Great Lakes Region and third-team All-America awards to her collection.
Happ has been a starter in every game the last two years and has contributed 12 assists, including eight this season, while doing most of her offensive damage on penalty corner plays. She is the leader of a defensive unit that has allowed just 14 goals all season, best in the NCAC.
A first-team All-NCAC and first-team all-region honoree in 2003, Happ is also a three-year starting defensive back for the Tiger women's lacrosse team.