SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers suffered what may have been an inevitable letdown Sunday, coming off an emotional win over Denison on Tuesday with a disappointing 9-5 home loss to Colorado College.
The loss was a damaging one to the Tigers from an NCAA regional perspective, but the team's primary goals remain there for the taking. At 8-3 overall but 3-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), the Tigers will return to action Saturday, April 24, against arch-rival Wooster with a share of a first-ever conference title on the line. Colorado College wrapped up a week-long tour of the NCAC with a 3-1 mark to improve to 10-2 overall on the 2010 season.
After the two teams battled to a 1-1 standoff through the first period, Colorado College blitzed the Tigers with five unanswered goals in the second quarter to take control of the game. Wittenberg outscored Colorado College 4-3 over the final 30 minutes, but the Tigers got any closer than the final margin of four goals.
Wittenberg outshot Colorado College decisively in three of the four quarters, but the visiting Tigers converted on an efficient five of their 11 attempts in the second frame. The host Tigers took far more shots (46-25), won more ground balls (31-26) and successfully converted on 17-of-18 clear attempts, but the visiting Tigers posted three more goalkeeper saves and won four more face-offs.
Offensively, senior Jeff Capella (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) led with two goals, while junior Matt Lord (Pickerington, Ohio/North) added one goal and one assist, as did senior Ted Winders (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township). Sophomore Michael Cocking () led with seven ground balls, while sophomoreSpencer Baker (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) was credited with eight saves in goal.