Wittenberg University men's soccer standouts Steve Cassiere and Chad Atwood have been selected to participate in the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game, scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on Sunday, April 14 at Ohio Wesleyan University. They are the first two Wittenberg players ever selected for the game.
Another banner fall sports season has reaped tangible rewards for 38 Wittenberg University athletes who were selected to All-North Coast Athletic Conference teams. In addition, several Tiger athletes have received regional and national recognition from various organizations.
A season that seemed to hold so much promise just two weeks ago came to a disappointing conclusion last week as the Tigers were beaten twice at home and missed out on the NCAC Tournament for the second straight year.
One step forward and one step back. Unfortunately, the latter may be the most costly. The week started off well enough for the Tigers, who traveled to Crawfordsville, Ind. and buried host Wabash on Wednesday for a 4-1 NCAC victory. The win, made possible in part by junior Stefan Christman's (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) two goals, was especially significant because it was Head Coach Steve Dawson's 200th career victory. He is one of just 45 coaches in NCAA Division III history to reach the 200-win plateau.
Wittenberg University's 4-1 men's soccer victory over Wabash College on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in Crawfordsville, Ind. was a big win for the team, improving the Tigers to 10-4-1 overall and 4-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference on the 2001 season. In addition, it was Men's Soccer Head Coach Steve Dawson's 200th career victory, a landmark that puts him in some elite company.
Offense has been a problem for the Tigers the last two years. For the second time in three weeks, Wittenberg exploded at that end of the field and hopefully solved the problems.
For the second year in a row, a strong non-conference showing in the early going has given way to struggles against the elite of the North Coast Athletic Conference. After opening the season with a 6-2 record, the Tigers have gone winless over the last week.
The Wittenberg men's soccer team continues to show promise in the early-going, compiling a 5-2 record that included a split of two games at the Anderson Invitational over the weekend. Head Coach Steve Dawson is now just five wins away from 200 for his fine career.
For a program that hasn't experienced a losing season since 1986 and hasn't won less than seven games in a season since 1980, the latest edition of the Wittenberg University Men's Soccer Tigers have a lot to prove.