SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg University men's soccer program kicks off its 2002 season by hosting the Wittenberg Men's Soccer Invitational this weekend at Bill Edwards Field. This will be the 14th Wittenberg Men's Soccer Invitational since 1987.

Joining the Tigers in the traditionally outstanding field is one of the Ohio Athletic Conference's most consistent programs, Otterbein College, as well as NAIA powerhouses Ohio Dominican College and Walsh University. Action gets underway on Saturday, Aug. 31st with a game between Wittenberg and Walsh at 2 p.m., followed by a contest between Ohio Dominican and Otterbein at 4 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 1, Walsh University and Otterbein square off at 1 p.m. and Ohio Dominican and Wittenberg renew acquaintances at 3 p.m.

Coming off a 10-7-1 season in 2001, the host Tigers return nine starters this season and have high hopes of breaking into the upper echelon of the extremely competitive North Coast Athletic Conference and working their way back into the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time since 1996. Wittenberg went 1-1 in last year's invitational - beating Ohio Northern 1-0 and losing 1-0 in overtime to Otterbein - and the Tigers have compiled a sparkling 16-8-2 record in the competition since it was introduced in 1987. The Tigers recently returned from a successful preseason tour of England, finishing 2-2 with victories against club teams representing Chester City and Southport.

Wittenberg is led again in 2002 by Head Coach Steve Dawson, who has been at the helm for 20 of the last 21 years. His career record of 200-131-16 ranks him 41st in victories among active men's soccer coaches in NCAA Division III, and last season became the 44th coach to win 200 career games.

Otterbein will be making its fifth straight appearance in the Wittenberg Men's Soccer Invitational. Last year, the Cardinals won both games in the competition, defeating the host team as well as Ohio Dominican en route to an impressive 15-4-0 overall record. Ohio Dominican is back for a second straight year after winning one and tying one in 2001 and going on to an 8-9-1 overall record. Rounding things out, Walsh finished with an overall 8-9-2 record in 2001, the program's first losing season since 1996.

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