NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The new-look Wittenberg men's lacrosse team started the 2012 season much like its predecessors with a come-from-behind 9-8 victory over Sewanee.
With a host of freshman and sophomores getting significant minutes and even starting assignments to start the 2012 season, the Tigers rallied from an 8-4 second-half deficit to claim the win in a game played at Montgomery Bell Academy. The loss evens Sewanee's record at 1-1.
Wittenberg also won a tense one-goal decision against Sewanee a year ago as Brady Christensen scored the game-winner with just 16 seconds remaining. It was the second straight one-goal win for the Tigers to open what turned out to be a record-breaking 14-2 season in 2011.
Senior Spencer Baker (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) waited three years to take his turn as the No. 1 goalkeeper, and he made a strong 2012 debut. He was credited with a whopping 20 saves in the game, including five in the fourth quarter as the Tigers completed their comeback by shutting out Sewanee over the final 15 minutes.
The two teams were knotted at 3-3 at halftime before Sewanee appeared to take control of the game with four goals in a five-minute span to take a four-goal lead. But Wittenberg answered with five in a row to close the game, including the winning tally with just 1:45 left on the clock by freshman Andrew Morrison (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) off a feed from senior Jim Ferris (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids).
Morrison finished his first collegiate game with two goals and an assist, matching the totals posted by Ferris. Junior Alex Previte (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) added two goals as six different Tigers found the back of the net and four different players handed out one assist apiece.
Also of note was the play of senior Elliot Avis (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids), who won 13 of the 18 face-offs that he contested.