CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Wittenberg Tigers opened the 2007 season in the same heartbreaking fashion as the 2006 season - with an overtime loss. A year ago, it was the Kenyon Lords taking Wittenberg by a 9-8 count on a frigid night in Springfield. This year, it was RPI doing the deed by an 8-7 count on a neutral field in Florida.
RPI's Alex MacDiarmid scored the game-tying goal late in the fourth quarter and then tallied the game-winner in overtime to lead the Red Hawks to a 2-0 record on the young season. His heroics in the clutch stymied a fine Wittenberg rally as the Tigers came back from a 5-3 halftime deficit with three straight goals to open the second half.
It was a stellar collegiate debut for Wittenberg freshman Brian Welton (Germantown, Tenn./Houston), who scored three goals. Freshman Jeff Capella (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) added a goal and two assists and junior Jon Van Vranken (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) finished with a goal and an assist.
The Tigers were outshot 41-21 in the game, but they did hold an edge in loose balls as they picked up 33 ground balls, compared to 27 for RPI. Senior goaltender Pat Garlock (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles) made eight saves, while RPI's netminders combined to equal that number.