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ADA, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers ran their modest early-season unbeaten streak to four with an unlikely 1-1 tie at third-ranked Ohio Northern.
The Tigers moved to 3-1-1, heading into one of the longest in-season trips in program history to Colorado College Sept. 17-18. The tie was Ohio Northern's first blemish in 2011 as the Polar Bears now stand 6-0-1.
After a scoreless first half, Ohio Northern struck first with a goal at the 51-minute mark. The Polar Bears kept the pressure on the tired Tigers, who were playing their third game in four days after winning a pair over the weekend in the annual Wittenberg Invitational, outshooting the visitors 13-5 and attempting seven corner kicks to zero for the Tigers in the second half.
But after a flurry at the Tigers' end that resulted in a pair of off-target shots by ONU, Wittenberg sophomore Tim Weissman (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) was able to place a cross into the Polar Bears' penalty area. As senior Stefan Latham (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) attempted to run onto the ball, a Polar Bear defender misplayed the ball into his own goal for the equalizing score.
While the Tigers were outshot in the second half, they performed well in the first half, gaining an 8-7 advantage in attempts on goal. Ohio Northern's goalkeeper was credited with five saves in the game, and one of his defenders was credited with clearing another Wittenberg shot off the goal line.
Wittenberg's defense held up well as the Polar Bears attempted 27 shots. Senior goalkeeper Michael Lambeck (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) came up big, making 10 saves to preserve the tie.