Delaware, OH- Wittenberg hit the road for a match-up with the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan. The Red & White had a tough battle but weren't able to come out on top in their first game of the series. The Tigers fell with a final score of 16-6 to give them a record of 1-3.
The Tigers were able to come out strong and put the first point on the board with an unassisted goal from Lucas Klever at the 13:48 mark but the Battling Bishops were able to answer back with two goals in the first quarter to take the lead 2-1. OWU was able to keep their momentum in the second quarter and start of the third, hitting the back of the net six times before Wittenberg was able to respond. With an 8-1 score in the third, Wittenberg looked to senior offense to take charge. Connor Rice was able to get through Ohio Wesleyan's defense with an assist from Nick Medley to lessen OWU's lead to six.
Rice came back only eighteen seconds after his first goal with another point for the Tigers unassisted at 7:30. Klever came in with a third unanswered goal for Wittenberg, unassisted, to give the Tigers their fourth goal of the game. Lucas Klever came back near the end of the third quarter to pick up a hat trick and his tenth goal of the season with an assist from Noah Mackin. Wittenberg was able to hold the Battling Bishops offense for fourteen minutes of the third quarter but went into the fourth down with a 9-5 score.
Mackin got things started for Wittenberg in the fourth quarter with an unassisted goal to bring the score to 9-6. Ohio Wesleyan was able to answer back and pull ahead, adding seven more goals to give them a final score of 16-6.
Splitting time in goal for the Tigers were Paxton Kreger with eight saves and Max Cavellier with seven. Wittenberg went 22-29 in clear attempts on the night and picked up nineteen ground balls. On face-off for the Red & White was Ashton Horiuchi who won eight of seventeen.
Up Next: The Tigers will be back in action on April 10th for another match-up with Ohio Wesleyan. Wittenberg will be hosting the Battling Bishops at 7PM on Edwards-Maurer Field.