SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—The Wittenberg Tiger field hockey team opened up the 2016 campaign with a home match against the Presidents of Washington and Jefferson College on Thursday night. Playing in front of a packed house, the Tigers came out of the gates smothering the Presidents on defense, earning multiple opportunities around the net early on in the match. Despite taking a 1-0 lead early on, the Tigers could not stop the Presidents slick passing, dropping a hard-fought match 3-2. The Tigers move to 0-1 in 2016, as the team plays host to the 2016 Great Lakes Invitational this Saturday and Sunday. Tiger fans can catch the team back in action on Sunday in Springfield against Sewanee. The match is set to start at 2:30PM.

GAME BREAKDOWN

• Michelle Murray found the back of the net at 19:45 for the Tigers on a beautiful deflection that was set-up by Riley Trexler.
• Washington and Jefferson managed to make the next two moves, scoring two goals to jump out and front before Wittenberg regained the momentum.
• Edwards-Maurer Field erupted when Audrey Coler maneuvered her way close enough get a shot off that narrowly trickled past Washington and Jefferson's goalie to knot things up at 2-2 in the second half.
• 61:54 in to the match, Washington and Jefferson sliced through the Tiger defense for a goal that would put the visiting team up for good, 3-2.

KEY STATS

• Washington and Jefferson registered 11 total shots on the night, while Wittenberg finished with nine.
• In what proved to be a physical match all-around, the match finished up with Wittenberg committing 31 fouls, and Washington and Jefferson with 22.
• The Tigers allowed the Presidents to attempt 11 penalty corners in the game, with seven coming in the later minutes of the second half on Thursday.

UP NEXT

• Wittenberg is back in action this Sunday as visiting Sewanee makes the trip to Edwards Maurer Field for a 2:30PM non-conference match.