WOOSTER, Ohio - Perhaps this was the watershed moment when Wittenberg women's soccer re-emerged on the scene as a legitimate threat. On Saturday on its opponents' home turf, the Tigers defeated North Coast Athletic Conference powerhouse Wooster, 1-0, in a battle of unbeatens.
Perhaps that watershed moment had already occurred this year when the Tigers played nationally ranked DePauw to a draw and went unbeaten through five Ohio Athletic Conference opponents. No matter, this was clearly the biggest win of Head Coach Norm Riker's young Wittenberg career, and it moved the youthful Tigers to 6-0-3 on the season and 1-0 in the NCAC heading into Tuesday's nonconference finale at nationally ranked Wilmington.
Wittenberg won the game with its defense, recording its fifth shutout in nine games this season. Freshman goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke was credited with three saves, while Wooster outshot the Tigers 9-6 for the game.
Offensively, Wittenberg needed just one breakthrough, and it came in the game's 75th minute. Freshman Lisa Rusch pounded home a rebound off a long shot by sophomore Phoebe Gaston to break the scoreless tie and propel the Tigers to the big win.