SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers have been getting by for the most part on defense and timely offense in 2005, but on Saturday at Edwards-Maurer Field Wittenberg took what may have been an important offensive step forward, crushing Transylvania 4-1 in nonconference action.

The Tigers won for the seventh time in eight games after an 0-4 start, improving to 7-5 overall. They remain atop the North Coast Athletic Conference standings at 5-2 heading into the stretch run of the season, starting with a key confrontation at perennial conference powerhouse Wooster on Oct. 15.

Wittenberg dominated from start to finish, outshooting the visitors 18-5 and scoring a pair of goals in each half. Everyone on the Wittenberg roster saw action.

Goals were scored by junior forward Melissa Jackson, junior forward Katy Barrett and junior defender Holly McHugh, who rounded out the scoring with both second-half tallies. Assists were credited to junior defender Rachel Dunn, sophomore midfielder Caroline Mason and Barrett, the Tigers' leading scorer on the season overall.

Sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Irvin allowed one goal and made two saves before giving way to freshman Andrea Lauer, who did not get a statistic in her second collegiate appearance.