WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wittenberg men's soccer team extended its best start since 2008 with a 3-1 victory over Muskingum on the first day of the Wilmington Kiwanis Classic.
The Tigers improved to 3-0-1 on the season, including a 3-0 mark against Ohio Athletic Conference teams. Wittenberg rounds out a busy opening 8-day stretch to the 2012 season with a contest against host Wilmington at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8.
A strong start was equaled by an equally strong finish against Muskingum. After the match was delayed by more than an hour due to storms in the area, the Tigers pounced immediately with a goal in the third minute. Senior Daniel Broidy (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) scored his second goal of the young season off a feed from sophomore Mitch Rudibaugh (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto).
Muskingum drew even 22 minutes later, but the Tigers took the lead for good in the 37th minute as junior Kevin Bond (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley). In the first half, Wittenberg outshot Muskingum 11-4.
In the second half, the Tiger defense stiffened even further, allowing just one Muskie attempt on goal. Senior Brock Hicks (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) put the game out of reach with a goal in the 62nd minute off a feed from sophomore Joe Poff (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler).
Sophomore goalkeeper Jeff Mengerink (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) was credited with just one save in the game.