SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - In the game of soccer, four goals in one game is a huge output, cause for celebration. If so, then what is four goals in the first half, including three goals in five minutes, cause for?

That's what occurred on Friday night at Edwards-Maurer Field as the Tigers stunned the Denison Big Red with just such a scoring outburst. The final result wound up a 4-2 Wittenberg victory, the Tigers' first in six years against Denison. Wittenberg improved to 5-3-3 overall and 2-0 on the 2005 season, while the Big Red fell to 3-7 overall and 0-2 in the NCAC.

The Tigers got on the board with a goal 13 minutes into the game as sophomore forward Joe Zeller headed home a pass from junior forward Jason Sucher. That was set up by a nifty pass from junior midfielder Sebastian Missura, hence a double assist was awarded.

That set the stage for a scoring barrage not seen in these parts in quite some time. Zeller's second goal of the night, off a feed from freshman Michael Hoskett, was followed just moments later by Missura's first score of the 2005 season, with the assist going to freshman midfielder Matt Borland, and then Borland finished the job with a goal of his own. Wittenberg held tough after that, allowing two second-half goals en route to a key NCAC win.

Wittenberg was actually outshot in the game 13-11, but junior goalkeeper Adam Horrocks was credited with five saves as the Tigers set themselves up for what they hope will be a run at their first-ever NCAC Tournament berth. The tournament is in its sixth year of existence and includes only the top four teams in the conference - Wittenberg has placed fifth or sixth in each of the last five years.