GREENCASTLE, Ind. - The Wittenberg Tigers, with five freshmen in the starting lineup, opened the 2007 season with a hard-luck 2-1 loss at DePauw.
The two teams of Tigers split shots in the game almost evenly, but the four from DePauw netted a pair of second half goals on Wittenberg goalkeeper Sarah Umberger (Concord, NH/Derryfield School). She finished with two saves and two goals allowed in the game.
Offensively, Wittenberg were credited with a total of six shots on net, but just a first-half shot from freshman Boo Vernon (Lake Bluff, Ill./Cushing Academy) hit paydirt. It was one of four breakaways Vernon generated in the first half alone, but she managed just the lone goal. In addition, the Tigers missed a golden opportunity in the first half when a penalty stroke was stopped by DePauw's goalkeeper.
The Tigers return to action again over the weekend at Wilson College. Wittenberg plays the host team on Saturday, with the semifinal winners of the four-team event playing on Sunday.