Tigers Celebrate Senior Day With Big Win Over Earlham

Mallory Skrobot capped her home field hockey career in style as Wittenberg beat Earlham by six goals. File Photo | Erin Pence
Mallory Skrobot capped her home field hockey career in style as Wittenberg beat Earlham by six goals. File Photo | Erin Pence
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg offense awoke in a big way on a cold, blustery day as the Tigers captured a dominating 7-1 victory over visiting North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Earlham.

Wittenberg's previous high scoring output in 2013 was four. The last time the Tigers scored seven goals in a game was Oct. 4, 2011, also against Earlham.

The win pushed the Tigers' records to 8-10 overall and 6-7 in the NCAC, with one regular season game remaining against DePauw at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. Wittenberg is fifth in the current conference standings, one game behind Wooster for the fourth and final spot in the annual NCAC Tournament.

The Tigers achieved a season sweep of Earlham and improved to 52-4-4 all-time against the Quakers, and in the process Wittenberg celebrated a senior and a freshman in the best way possible. Senior defender Mallory Skrobot (Dublin, Ohio/Watterson) was making her final home appearance in a field hockey uniform, as was freshman midfielder Eva van Dijkman (Den Haag, Netherlands/Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet).

The Tigers broke out to a 3-0 lead by halftime on goals from van Dijkman, junior Beth Warning (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) and sophomore Paige Vanerstrom (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny). Sophomore Emma Foster (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) was credited with the assist on the third tally.

Wittenberg added four more goals before Earlham broke through at the 64:00 mark. Second-half goals for the Tigers were provided by Warning, Foster, junior Kim Loofbourrow (Prospect, Ky./Ballard) and Vanerstrom. Freshman Michelle Murray (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) picked up the lone assist in the scoring frenzy.

For the game, Wittenberg outshot Earlham by a 30-11 margin and held a 15-9 edge in penalty corner opportunities. Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Brownell (Ocnomowoc, Wis./University Lake School) finished the game with five saves for the Tigers.