DELAWARE, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers enjoyed a breakthrough season of sorts. And while the 2005 campaign ended with a disappointing 3-0 loss at North Coast Athletic Conference regular season champion and second-ranked Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday, the future is bright.

The Tigers finished the 2005 season with a 7-6-6 overall record, the program's first winning season since three straight between 1999 and 2001. Wittenberg snuck into the NCAC Tournament for the first time since its inception in 2000 with a 4-2-3 regular season conference record, good for a fourth place tie with Denison with 15 points. Based on a 2-0 Wittenberg win over the Big Red, the Tigers were awarded the opportunity to square off with OWU, the second-ranked team in the nation.

On Wednesday, not much went the Tigers' way. The Battling Bishops scored just four minutes into the game and kept up the pressure, finishing with a 33-6 advantage in shots. Behind junior goalkeeper Adam Horrocks, and his 11 saves, the Tigers kept it close until late in the second half when OWU scored two goals in the final 20 minutes.

Ohio Wesleyan advanced to the NCAC Tournament match, which the Bishops will host Saturday against Allegheny.