GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers took another significant step forward Tuesday, rallying for their fourth straight North Coast Athletic Conference victory. This time, the victim was Denison, by a narrow 2-1 margin - on the road.
The Tigers improved to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the NCAC heading into a key NCAC road game Saturday against Kenyon. The Ladies defeated Wittenberg 1-0 at Edwards-Maurer Field earlier this season. Denison, playing its first game on a new artificial turf field in historic Deeds-Piper Stadium, dropped to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
For the third straight game, Wittenberg was forced to play catch-up thanks to an early goal by the opponent. But the key in each of the three wins - starting with a pair of overtime 5-4 wins last week over Earlham and Oberlin and continuing Tuesday at Denison - is that the foe never moved ahead by more than one goal. Against the Big Red, Wittenberg rallied from an early goal as freshman Tori Vogelgesang (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) banged home a shot off a penalty corner play. Sophomore Whitney Marshall (Barre, Mass./Quabbin Regional) had the assist on the play.
The Tigers finally broke the tie with a goal in the 62nd minute as senior Rachel Dunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) scored what turned out to be her second straight game-winner. Another penalty corner play, this goal was assisted by senior Holly McHugh (Randolph, NJ/Randolph).
Denison won the battle but lost the war, outshooting Wittenberg 20-9 for the game. However, freshman goalkeeper Sarah Umberger (Concord, NH/Derryfield School) was up to the task, making six saves. Denison also had two more penalty corners in the game.