Tori Casanta is one of three players who have accounted for more than 80 percent of Wittenberg's goals in 2009.
Springfield, Ohio — For the first time since 2004, the Wittenberg University field hockey team has earned the opportunity to play in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Tigers, regular season co-champions of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), will travel to Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., for a first-round game against the seventh-ranked Dutchmen at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. Wittenberg brings records of 12-5 overall and 10-2 in the NCAC regular season into the national competition.
The winner of the game between Lebanon Valley and Wittenberg will advance to play eighth-ranked Rowan, which received a first-round bye, on Saturday, Nov. 14.
The NCAA Division III Tournament appearance is the eighth in Wittenberg field hockey history, although the Tigers have yet to win a game in the competition. Lebanon Valley, the runner-up in the Commonwealth Conference, is 17-3 in 2009 and is making its fifth consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearance and 15th overall.
The two teams have met twice in the past. In 1997, Lebanon Valley defeated Wittenberg 4-1 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament en route to a national semifinal appearance. In 2002, Wittenberg made a regular season trip to Lebanon Valley and emerged with a 2-1 upset win.
The Tigers got off to a slow start in 2009, losing the opener at home to Denison and falling to 1-2 in the NCAC with a 7-2 loss at Wooster on Sept. 19. Behind goalkeeper Jenny Schaafsma, class of 2012 from Grand Rapids, Mich., the Tiger defense stiffened and the team caught fire, winning nine of 11 games to close the regular season, including their last nine against conference competition. However, a berth in the 2009 national tournament appeared to be lost when the Tigers were defeated 1-0 in overtime by visiting Ohio Wesleyan in the NCAC Tournament semifinals on Nov. 4.
Ranked first in the most recent NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region rankings on Nov. 4, Wittenberg received a Pool C (at-large) bid into the tournament.
Boo Vernon, class of 2011 from Lake Bluff, Ill., leads the Tigers and ranks among the NCAC and NCAA Division III leaders in scoring with 46 total points (17 goals and 12 assists). She stands No. 2 in school history with 54 career goals, 23 behind Amy Kraus, who ranks No. 2 in NCAC history.
Vernon had plenty of help in the offensive end in 2009, starting with Elizabeth Dwyer, class of 2012 from St. Louis, Mo., who contributed 14 goals and six assists for 34 total points after transferring to Wittenberg from arch-rival Wooster. Her totals were matched by Tori Casanta, class of 2011 from Mason, Ohio, who finished with 15 goals and four assists for 34 total points. Casanta ranks No. 3 in school history with 52 career goals.
Defensively, Schaafsma took over goalkeeping duties early in the season and posted a stellar 9-3 record, including five shutouts. She was credited with 75 saves and a 1.32 goals against average in nearly 850 minutes between the pipes.
While Schaafsma did a fine job in goal, she was helped by an incredible 25 defensive saves, one of the top totals in the country in 2009. Individually, Kelley Herde, class of 2011 from Louisville, Ky., ranks among the nation's best in defensive saves with an NCAC-best 12 on the 2009 season.
Written by: Ryan Maurer
Photos by: Erin Pence