SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers opened the 2005 season on a positive note, rallying from an early 2-0 deficit to forge a 3-3 tie with Ohio Athletic Conference powerhouse Otterbein. The Cardinals did, however, win a shootout 4-3 and will be credited with a win for purposes of final placement in the two-day Wittenberg Invitational.

Otterbein jumped on top with a pair of goals late in the first half, both courtesy of Wittenberg defensive breakdowns. However, the youthful Tigers, with a lineup stocked with young players in the second half, struck back in most improbable fashion. Freshman Jimmy Thinnes scored on a one-touch shot from the top of the penalty box off a cross from junior Brian Mutton less than six minutes into the second half, and then Mutton scored the equalizer on a one-touch shot from almost the same spot as Thinnes. Mutton's goal, however, came after Otterbein's goaltender mistakenly thought that the referee had made a foul call on Wittenberg and set the ball down - allowing the alert Mutton to race in and knock the ball into the goal and tie the score.

Twelve minutes later Otterbein moved back in front with a give-and-go play in the Tiger penalty box, but once again Wittenberg showed some significant resolve with an Ian Acker goal at the 77:48 mark. Freshman Michael Hoskett was credited with the assist, and the Tiger defense turned away a couple of late challenges to make the score stand up.

The game was extremely even, as evidenced by the final statistics. Wittenberg was credited with 14 total shots to 12 for the visitors, and both goaltenders finished with four saves, including three in the first half. The Tigers and Cardinals even split 36 total fouls in this extremely physical game.

Otterbein comes back on Sunday for a game against Ohio Dominican, last year's Wittenberg Invitational champion. Wittenberg squares off with John Carroll, a 1-0 loser to the Panthers on Saturday, at 3 p.m.