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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - When the Tigers played the two-time defending Wittenberg Invitational champion Otterbein, it had all the earmarks of a well-played, hard-fought game. The match lived up to the expectations, but unfortunately for the host Tigers the end result was a 2-1 Otterbein victory for the Cardinals' third title in the last four years.
Much like Saturday's game against Ohio Dominican, the Tigers were forced to come from behind. With just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Otterbein's Patrick Shick found the back of the net as Adam Boals' shot went through the hands of outstretched Wittenberg senior goalie Adam Horrocks (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) and Shick, who was waiting on the back side, softly knocked the loose ball into the net. The Tigers would not score in the first half, despite 11 shots.
Wittenberg came out in the second half with added pressure on the Otterbein defense, and the strategy paid off with a goal just three minutes in. Sophomore midfielder Matt Borland (Kettering, Ohio/Alter), the team's leading scorer in 2005, collected his first goal of the season off a miss by sophomore forward Shane Price (Minford, Ohio/Minford). Price's shot clanged off the far-side goal post and Borland was perfectly positioned to collect the loose ball and put it in the net.
Otterbein, however, would tally the game-winning goal late with 12 minutes remaining as Drew Pitzer headed the ball into the net off a corner kick from Jordan Gonzales. Just two minutes after the go-ahead goal by Pitzer, Wittenberg junior forward Joe Zeller (Springfield, Ohio/North) narrowly missed a chance to tie the game as his header deflected off the fingertips of Otterbein goalie Jordan Guhl and went just wide to the right. Guhl was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
The Tigers finished with the overall advantage in shots, outshooting Otterbein 24-5, including 13 directed on goal, compared to four for the Cardinals. Guhl finished the game with 12 saves, compared to two for Horrocks.
The Tigers return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Wilmington.