GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Wittenberg field hockey team turned the tables on Denison Wednesday night, returning the favor with a 3-0 win after dropping the season opener to the Big Red by a 3-2 margin. The Tigers collect their second-straight North Coast Athletic Conference road win in improving to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the conference.
Entering the game with identical conference records, Denison and the Tigers battled for sole possession of second place in the league. The Tigers went up a full game on the Big Red, who know find themselves in a third-place tie with Ohio Wesleyan at 4-3 in the NCAC.
Wittenberg shut Denison out after being allowed just nine shots in the season opener. This time around the Tigers shot 14 times, receiving three goals from three different players. Junior forward Tori Casanta (Mason, Ohio/Cor Jesu Academy)started them off with a goal in the 16th minute. After starting a penalty corner herself, Casanta found the ball on the rebound off a saved shot from fellow junior forward Boo Vernon (Lake Bluff, Ill,/Cushing Academy) and put it in the cage.
Sophomore forward Elizabeth Dwyer (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue) put an exclamation point on the first goal, scoring just three minutes later when she spun to shake the goalie and found the net in a one-on-one situation. That wrapped up the first half scoring, matching the first Denison contest. In contrast, Denison scored once in the first half in that game and took the lead with two second half goals.
The Tigers kept Denison from making the same late-game push with help from nine total team saves, including two defensive saves. Sophomore goalkeeper Jenny Schaafsma (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids) made seven saves herself, receiving help in the form of defensive saves from Casanta and junior defenderKelly Herde (Louisville, Ky./Assumption).
In the second period, freshman forward Kellen Morrissey (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) gathered a Vernon shot off the post and fed it right back to the shooter, allowing Vernon to net the Tigers' third and final goal of the night.
The Tigers return to Springfield on Saturday, Oct. 10, for the first of two back-to-back home games. On Saturday at Noon, the Tigers will try to even the score with the College of Wooster following a prior 7-2 loss at Wooster. In the back-end of the homestand, the Tigers attempt a season sweep of Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Written by: John Strawn '07