The Wittenberg University Tigers are young but could be
ready to pounce in 2001. A year after posting the program¹s
first 10-win season since 1995 and earning a berth in the inaugural
North Coast Athletic Conference tournament, Wittenberg returns 12
letterwinners and welcomes a strong recruiting class into the
fold.
For a second straight year, the Tigers¹ strength appears
to be offense. Leading the charge are two of the best goal-scorers
in the conference in 2000, sophomores Geri
Woessner (Dayton,
Ohio/Oakwood) and Jill
Rekers (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro).Woessner
finished 29th in the country in goals per game while collecting
plenty of honors during her first college season. She scored a
school-record 18 goals and 43 total points last year en route to
earning first-team All-NCAC honors and NCAC Newcomer of the Year
honors. Rekers, who missed three games with a sprained ankle, was
second on the team with 10 goals and 26 total points as she claimed
honorable mention All-NCAC. They will be joined by several talented
newcomers, most notably freshman Katie
Mazzio (Wilmington, Del./A.I. duPont).
Defensively, the Tigers do have some experience returning but
also a tall task in replacing departed midfield stalwart Natalie
Estep, defender Jen Combs and four-time all-conference choice Shana
Ryan, the team's MVP in 2000. Among the players filling those shoes
in 2001 will be sophomores Melissa Jordan
(Cincinnati,
Ohio/Finneytown), Erin
Lane (Lucas, Ohio/Mansfield St.
Peter's), Lesley Runyan
(Ashland,
Ohio/Ashland), Jessica
Shellhause (London,
Ohio/London) and Kate
Williston (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster), who was
a forward a year ago. Also, starting
goalkeeper Jenny Miller (Cincinnati,
Ohio/Mother of Mercy) is back.