Tigers Begin To Turn Their Season Around

Sebastian Missura

The Wittenberg men's soccer team got off to a tough start with a young roster and a difficult nonconference schedule. But in the last week, the Tigers have put together three straight one-goal victories to work their way back to 4-5 overall heading into the NCAC schedule.

After losing back-to-back 3-2 decisions to NAIA scholarship programs Cedarville and Mount Vernon Nazarene, the Tigers rebounded to defeat Muskingum 2-1 in overtime on Sept. 17, Urbana 1-0 on Sept. 21 and Wilmington 3-2 in overtime on Sept. 24. Wittenberg has played nine games in 2003, eight of which have been decided by one goal. The Tigers are 4-4 in those games. In overtime games, Wittenberg is 2-2.

In the win over Muskingum, sophomore Andy Stewart (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) scored the overtime game-winning goal after freshman David Ross (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) had earlier given the Tigers' their lone tally in regulation. Freshman Adam Horrocks (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) recorded his first collegiate shutout against Urbana in support of an offense that recorded a game-winning second-half goal by freshman Sebastian Missura (Quito, Ecuador/American School). And against Wilmington, a traditional regional power, the Tigers got a first-half goal from sophomore Matt Berry (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe), a second-half, game-tying tally from senior Steve Doring (Dayton, Ohio/Wayne) and the overtime game-winner from Missura.

Next up for the Tigers is the most important stretch of games to date. Games against conference contenders Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan, on Saturday and Wednesday respectively, figure to test whether the Tigers are going to be in the race for the NCAC. Wittenberg has completed the nonconference portion of the 2003 schedule.