By: Jenn Ryan, '19
Springfield, OH – The Wittenberg women's lacrosse team opened the 2019 campaign with an exciting 16-14 win over the Cardinals of Otterbein University on Saturday afternoon from Edwards-Maurer Field. The Tigers got off to a quick 2-0 start on a chilly Saturday afternoon and ended the game on top of the Otterbein in almost every offensive category. The Tigers and Cardinals played a back-and-forth game, trading the lead in both halves.
Game Breakdown
Rachel Bernard opened up the scoring for the Tigers with an unassisted goal following a successful clear. Emily Wadds followed up with another goal less than a minute later. The Tigers battled back from three consecutive Otterbein goals, tying up the game on a goal on a Gabby Zysik with an assist from Wadds, bring the game back to even at 3-3. The Tigers and the Cardinals battled throughout the rest of the half, trading the lead. Toward the end of the half, Otterbein added two late goals to knot the game up at 8-8. Wadds found the goal twice more for the Tigers by the end of the first half.
Wittenberg pulled ahead for the lead in the second half following an opening goal by Otterbein. Wittenberg added two goals by Zysik before Otterbein tied the game up once again at 10-10. Wittenberg goals by Bernard and Burkey put the Tigers ahead once more, 12-10 midway through the half. Burkey, Wadds, and Zysik contributed two goals each throughout the second half. As the clock wound down toward the final buzzer, Wittenberg ended the game with a successful clear and a Tiger win, 16-14.
Player Highlights
Zysik and Wadds led in scoring for the Tigers with four goals apiece, closely followed by Burkey's hattrick. Zysik and Bernard tied in groundballs with ten, with Wadds picking up five.
Up Next
The Tigers will take on the Centre College Colonels on Tuesday, February 26th at 6 p.m. at Edwards-Maurer Field.