SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - It was hard-fought and fast-paced, but in the end a 2-1 loss to Kenyon in penalty strokes ended up as simply heartbreaking. For two regulation periods, two overtime periods, and one round of penalty strokes, the Kenyon Ladies and Wittenberg Tigers provided some of the most exhilirating field hockey played on Edwards-Maurer Field in quite some time.
Kenyon lept on top of the Tigers just 1:30 into the first period, scoring on a penalty corner. But Tori Casanta (Mason, ohio/Cor Jesu Academy) responded with an unassisted cage-rattler just five minutes later, hooking a shot around the post from the endline just left of the goal. After that, it was a heated yet unproductive battle as both teams garnered numerous opportunities, but spoiled each other's with clutch defense or unbelievable saves.
Among the highlights was a Liana Began (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) stick save to turn away an excellent Kenyon shot. It was one of six stops for the freshman in what was certainly her best performance yet. In front of Began, Meredith Price (Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Country Day) was part of a superb defensive effort, earning a spot on the all-tournament team for her play.
Joining Price on the all-tournament team were teammates Boo Vernon (Lake Bluff, Ill./Cushing Academy) and Casanta.
The game ended on a tense round of penalty strokes, as no Wittenberg shooters were able to find the back of the cage. Began did all she could to save the game, stopping the first shot from Kenyon but allowing the next three to get by. On the third successful shot from the Ladies, Wittenberg was out of time, as their opponents celebrated their second-straight NCAC tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Divison III tournament.
The Tigers are keeping up slim hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, but otherwise the season is complete.
Written by: John Strawn