DELAWARE, Ohio — The Wittenberg men's lacrosse team was unable to get the monkey off its collective back as the Tigers lost a 14-6 decision at Ohio Wesleyan. 

The Tigers have not beaten the Battling Bishops since re-forming as a varsity program in 1983. The loss dropped Wittenberg to 8-5 overall and 2-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), heading into the 2012 season finale against Otterbein on Tuesday, May 1. Ohio Wesleyan improved to 11-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference.

After the two teams opened the game with more than seven minutes of scoreless action, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead on a goal by senior Jimmy Luckino (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne). Ohio Wesleyan answered with three straight goals to end the first period, and by halftime the Bishops held a 5-3 advantage.

Ohio Wesleyan broke the game open over the first nine minutes of the second half, scoring four straight goals to run the lead out to 9-3. The Tigers responded with two goals, but the Bishops put it away with another four-goal run.

Five different Wittenberg players scored at least one goal in the game, led by juniorAlex Previte (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) with two goals and an assist. Senior Jim Ferris (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) added one goal and on assist.

The Tigers actually outshot OWU by a 41-40 margin. Senior goalkeeper Spencer Baker (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) came up with nine saves in the game.