Tigers Open NCAC Action With 1-0 Loss At Denison

Audrey Phibbs

Audrey Phibbs

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers were shut out, 1-0, by North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Denison in the league-opener for both teams.

The Tigers, who won the NCAC regular season title with an 11-1 record a year ago, dropped to 0-2 on the young season. The game was Denison's season opener as well its first league competition.

While the shots count was decidedly in the Big Red's favor at 16-6, Tiger freshman Audrey Phibbs (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) steered all three of her shots on goal. Two of the shots were saved by Denison goalkeeper Brittany Benson, including a clutch stop of a second-half breakaway, and the third was denied by Denison defender Kelsey Flowers in the game's eighth minute.

In addition to taking 16 shots in the game, Denison piled up 13 penalty corner opportunities. Senior goalkeeper Jenny Schaafsma (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) and her teammates did not allow a goal off a penalty corner, instead allowing a rebound goal in the 34th minute for the game's lone tally. Schaafsma was credited with six saves in the game.