SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers saw an early lead slip away in a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss to North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Kenyon.
The loss dropped Wittenberg to 9-7 overall and 6-5 in the NCAC, while Kenyon improved to 6-10 overall, but more importantly 6-3 in the conference. The Ladies also picked up a 5-2 win over Wittenberg earlier this season.
The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of first-half goals by sophomore forward Boo Vernon (Lake Bluff, Ill./Cushing Academy). The first was assisted by sophomore defender Meredith Price (Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Country Day) and the second was set up by a pass from junior defender Tori Vogelgesang (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame).
Kenyon proved amazingly opportunistic, scoring its first goal with 12 minutes left in the first half, the game-tying goal with just 3:30 remaining in the second half and the overtime game-winner with a mere 19 seconds left in overtime. The overtime goal came on the counter-attack after Wittenberg had controlled most of the action, launching four of its 10 shots on the Kenyon goal. However, Kenyon goalkeeper Karen Thompson was up to the task, making three of her six saves in the extra session, including two from close range.
For the game, Wittenberg was credited with a 10-9 shots advantage and a 12-8 edge in penalty corners. The Tigers also picked up a pair of clutch defensive saves in the game, one from senior defender Whitney Marshall (Barre, Mass./Quabbin Regional) and the other from freshman defender Taylor Dawley (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley). Freshman goalkeeper Alyssa Ashbaugh (Gahanna, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls) was awarded three saves in the final statistics.
The Tigers wrap up NCAC action Wednesday at Earlham before returning home for senior day against Morrisville State at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.