Second Half Goals Push Oberlin Past Wittenberg

Cameron Ferguson and the Tigers battled to a 2-0 loss to Oberlin. File Photo | Nick Falzerano
Cameron Ferguson and the Tigers battled to a 2-0 loss to Oberlin. File Photo | Nick Falzerano

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers battled through a scoreless first half, but Oberlin used a pair of second-half goals to pull away for a 2-0 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory.

Oberlin improved to 8-5-1 overall and 2-3 in the NCAC, while Wittenberg fell to 3-10-2 overall and 0-5-0 in the league. The Tigers have four games remaining in the 2015 regular season, starting with road games next week at Wabash and Hiram.

In the first half, both teams had their chances but the score line remained 0-0. The Tigers actually had the opportunity to draw first blood, but a short re-directed shot off the foot of senior Zack Moore (Kettering, Ohio/Alter) struck the post just a few minutes into the game.

Oberlin broke the ice with a goal in the 57th minute, and the Yeomen put it away with another tally in the 81st minute. The first goal came just seconds after the Tigers thought they had earned a penalty kick when the ball struck an Oberlin defender in the hand. The referee determined that it was not an infraction, and off the counterattack, a long throw-in led to a well-struck shot from the top of Wittenberg's box.

The final shot count was 18-6 in favor of Oberlin, and the Yeomen were awarded nine corner kicks to three for Wittenberg. In goal, freshman Hunter Bock (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) was credited with five saves, to go along with a tremendous goal line clearance from freshman Austin Lewis (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh).

Written By: Ryan Maurer