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The Wittenberg Tigers welcome 16 letterwinners, including eight starters, back to the lineup in 2011 in hopes of breaking back into the upper echelon of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).
In order to reach the NCAC Tournament for the first time since a heartbreaking shootout loss at Ohio Wesleyan in 2008, the Tigers will have to find a way to stay healthy. Injuries have played a significant role in back-to-back sub-.500 seasons, but veteran Head Coach Steve Dawson may finally have the depth and talent to overcome such a plague in 2011.
That depth starts in goal, where senior Michael Lambeck (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) is ably backed by senior David Rea (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River). Lambeck has been the team's starter for three straight years, culminating with a first-team All-NCAC and first-team All-Ohio performance in 2010 that included 107 saves (second in the conference), a 1.26 goals against average and seven shutouts. Rea did not allow a goal in nearly 100 minutes in 2010.
Most of the starting defensive unit returns intact, starting with fifth-year senior Spencer Hogue (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman). He battled through injuries a year ago to start 10 games and earn his second straight honorable mention All-NCAC designation. He played centrally alongside junior Alejandro Garcia (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis), who started 17 games and also earned honorable mention all-conference in 2010.
Garcia's emergence as a stalwart defender occurred simultaneously with the surprise of the 2010 season, the performance of senior Zach Hedges (Carroll, Ohio/Bloom-Carroll), who earned his first varsity letter while starting 15 games on defense. Also back in 2011 after starting at least seven games a year ago are junior Brock Hicks (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) and sophomore Tim Weissman (Kettering, Oho/Fairmont).
Sophomore Kevin Bond (Columbus, Ohio/Bexley) also played a key role on defense, starting all 18 games in his inaugural collegiate campaign. He also ranked among the team leaders in shots with 28.
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The fact that a defensive midfielder was among the team leaders in several offensive categories points to the Tigers' biggest problem in 2010 — scoring. Wittenberg ranked last in the NCAC in every offensive category and finished the season with five straight shutout losses after a 2-0 win over Hiram had evened the Tigers' record at 5-5-3.
Junior Marshall Rowland (Pewee Valley, Ky./South Oldham) returns to the midfield after starting 15 games a year ago, as does senior Declan McBride (Surrey, England/Tasis), who started all 18 games and tied for the team lead with two goals on the season. The midfield figures to get a big boost with a return to health for senior Daniel Broidy (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley), who has missed much of the last two seasons due to injury but has been a key player at a variety of positions when available.
The biggest question marks are up top, where senior Stefan Latham (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) missed the 2010 season due to injury after finishing with three goals and eight total points in 18 games in 2009. Sophomore Brian Boutin (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon), junior Christian Stringer (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) and senior Brian Hertzog (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) are among a host of returning letterwinners vying for playing time in the offensive zone in 2011.
Following a preseason training trip to England, the 2011 season starts with a trip to Defiance for games on Friday, Sept. 2, and Saturday, Sept. 3. The Tigers are will take on the host Yellow Jackets before squaring off with Thiel the next day.
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence