SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg field hockey team made the most of their homecoming, taking a 5-2 decision over Earlham Tuesday night at Edwards-Maurer Field. Junior forward Boo Vernon (Lake Bluff, Ill./Cushing Academy) led the way with three goals and two assists, participating in every goal scored.
The Tigers came back to Springfield after dropping a Saturday contest with NCAC-powerhouse Wooster. With Tuesday's win, Wittenberg evened their conference record at 2-2, and improved to 4-2 overall.
Vernon scored the game winning goal just seven minutes into the second half, a period characterized by an offensive outburst from Wittenberg that included another Vernon goal and one from junior midfielder Tori Casanta (Mason, Ohio/Cor Jesu Academy), on which Vernon assisted. The Tigers peppered the Earlham netminder with 30 shots in the game, while limiting Earlham to just 11.
Seventeen of the Tigers' 30 shots came in the first period, which ended with the score deadlocked at 2-2 following Vernon's first goal, preceded by a scoring play off the stick of sophomore forward Elizabeth Dwyer (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue) that came on assists from both Vernon and Casanta.
Vernon earned her third goal of the night and ninth of the season in the second half to push the Tiger lead to 5-2, with help from junior defender Kelley Herde (Louisville, Ky./Assumption).
The Tigers next take to the field on the road in a match with NCAC opponent Ohio Wesleyan on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 4:30 p.m.
Written by: John Strawn '07