Beth Warning
GREENCASTLE, Ind. — After a strong start, the Wittenberg Tigers fell to North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) newcomer DePauw, 5-1.
The game was the first played between Wittenberg, with the most NCAC championships in league history - including the last two, and DePauw, which has previously played as a field hockey independent. The Tigers, playing with a starting lineup that featured six freshmen, fell to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the NCAC, while DePauw improved to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in the conference.
Just 6:36 into the contest, the visiting Tigers found themselves on top thanks to an unassisted tally by freshman Beth Warning (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame). However, that was one of just two shots Wittenberg attempted in the game.
The host Tigers took complete control from that point, outshooting Wittenberg by a 25-2 margin overall. The margin was just 8-2 in the first half, but four of those DePauw shots found the back of the cage. DePauw added its fifth and final goal at the 41-minute mark.
Senior goalkeeper Jenny Schaafsma (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) kept the Tigers within striking distance, especially in a 13-save second half. She finished with 17 saves overall.