SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers showed tremendous resiliency, overcoming a late Oberlin rally to force overtime and then rallying again in the extra session, scoring the game-winning goal with just 26 seconds left in a thrilling 17-16 victory over the Yeowomen.
The win was Wittenberg's 26th in a row in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season play. More importantly, the Tigers improved to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the league's 2015 title chase with four games remaining.
Oberlin dropped to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the NCAC. The Yeowomen have lost eight straight to Wittenberg, although the one-goal decision was by far the closest during that stretch.
Neither team held a lead larger than three goals in the entire game, and the lead changed hands a mind-boggling seven times. The game featured a whopping 13 ties, finally broken with just 26 seconds remaining in the six-minute overtime period on a goal by sophomore Becca Joseph (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula).
Joseph was also the player who sent the game into the extra session after she converted a clutch free position shot with just eight ticks left in regulation. Her score rescued the Tigers after Oberlin had gone on a 6-2 run over the final 20 minutes of the second half to turn a 12-9 Wittenberg lead into a 15-14 Oberlin advantage.
After the Yeowomen secured the only draw control of the first three minutes of overtime, Oberlin spent the entire time working for a shot. Just before time expired, however, junior goalkeeper Katie Reuter (Cleveland, Ohio/Hathaway Brown) came up with her second consecutive timely save. With one second left in regulation, Reuter made a stop, and she was up to the task again with just six ticks remaining in the first half of overtime.
Oberlin broke the ice 22 seconds into the second half of overtime, but Wittenberg again had the answer as senior Logan Warye (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) sliced through the defense for the equalizer. After Warye caused a turnover, Joseph's goal put Wittenberg in front, and then Warye caused another turnover inside the final 10 seconds as Oberlin scrambled but could not put a final shot on frame.
Warye and junior Olivia Lash (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) each finished with five goals in the game, while Joseph contributed four goals and four assists. Warye also stuffed the stats sheet with seven ground balls and six caused turnovers, both tops on the team.
Junior Carrie Kubasta (Medina, Ohio/Medina) chipped in on offense with one goal and two assists, in addition to six ground balls and five caused turnovers. Senior Beth Hubbard (West Hartford, Conn./Notre Dame de Sion (Mo.)) also made some big plays, finishing with two goals, two ground balls and three caused turnovers.
As a team, Wittenberg held a 40-28 advantage in shots and picked up 28 ground balls to 23 for Oberlin. The keys for the Yeowomen were a decisive 26-10 advantage in draw controls and a 13-6 edge in saves for Oberlin goalkeeper Alexa L'Insalata.
Written By: Ryan Maurer