DELAWARE, Ohio - A dream season had to come to an end sometime, and it appears that the 2004 season finally may have come to an end for the Wittenberg women's soccer team. The Tigers, making their first appearance in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championship game, lost 1-0 to nationally ranked and top-seeded Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday.

The Tigers, who are under consideration for an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament, dropped to 11-4-5 overall after posting a 5-3 record in the NCAC regular season, which was good for third place. In Wednesday's semifinal match against nationally ranked and second seeded Denison, the Tigers advanced on penalty kicks after finishing in a 0-0 tie.

Ohio Wesleyan, which won national titles in women's soccer in 2001 and 2002, was clearly the aggressor in the 2004 championship match, outshooting Wittenberg 16-3 and attempting seven corner kicks to one for the Tigers. Freshman goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke came up with four saves for Wittenberg, compared to two for her Ohio Wesleyan counterpart, but the Battling Bishops snuck one past her in the 56th minute of the game for what turned out to be the final margin.

Ohio Wesleyan, which beat Wittenberg 1-0 in double overtime in the regular season meeting between the two teams in Springfield, earned the NCAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament, which opens on Wednesday, Nov. 10. Wittenberg is among numerous teams hoping for a Pool C berth, of which there are previous few.