Tigers Pull Out Key NCAC Win Over Wooster

Zara Tickner and the Tigers moved into sole possession of fourth place in the NCAC with a 3-2 win over Wooster. Photo by Erin Pence
Zara Tickner and the Tigers moved into sole possession of fourth place in the NCAC with a 3-2 win over Wooster. Photo by Erin Pence

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers moved into the driver's seat in the race for the fourth and final spot in the 2014 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament after pulling out a 3-2 win over Wooster.

The win moved the Tigers to 6-7 overall and 5-4 in the league, while Wooster is now 6-7 overall and 4-5 in the NCAC. Wittenberg took both meetings in the season series between the two teams, meaning the Tigers have what amounts to a two-game lead in the standings.

Wittenberg piled 34 shots, compared to 10 for Wooster, but it was three golden touches off the stick of senior Beth Warning (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) that made the ultimate difference. Warning found the back of the cage at the 6:26 mark, the 49:49 mark and the 57:32 mark.

Warning's first two goals were countered by the Scots, forging a tie in the 19th minute that held up through halftime and then knotting the score in the 56th minute on a penalty stroke. Warning had the final word, however, as she pulled in a bouncing ball at the doorstep of the goal off a feed from freshman Carlijn van den Berg (Zwolle, The Netherlands/Thorbecke).

Senior Megan Loofbourrow (Prospect, Ky./Ballard) was credited with the assists on each of the Tigers' first two goals.

Warning finished with a whopping 12 shots, while junior Paige Vanerstrom (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) added six, senior Kim Loofbourrow (Prospect, Ky./Ballard) contribute five and Megan Loofbourrow chipped in with four.

At the other end of the field, sophomore goalkeeper Laura Jansing (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) made six saves.

Written By: Ryan Maurer