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MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Wittenberg Tigers controlled their North Coast Athletic Conference destiny heading into the final game of the 2006 regular season, but 110 minutes in the cold, rain and wind at Allegheny College later the Tigers had nothing more than a 0-0 tie to show their efforts.
Four agonizing hours later, word reached the road-weary Tigers that Kenyon had defeated Earlham to capture the NCAC regular season title. As a result, Wittenberg finished a program-best second in the always rugged NCAC and will host the first conference tournament soccer game for either men or women in school history.
The Tigers were credited with a 13-7 advantage in total shots in the game, in addition to a 7-6 edge in corner kick opportunities. The second half was particularly lop-sided as Wittenberg took eight shots to Allegheny's two and had five corner kicks to just one for the Gators. However, the Tigers, playing without two injured starters, were unable to organize a scoring chance they could finish.
Junior goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) finished with three saves, including a key one in the second overtime period.
Wittenberg, which is now 12-3-3 overall and 5-1-2 in the NCAC, will return to the friendly confines of Edwards-Maurer Field for a game against Wooster at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1. The two teams tied 1-1 earlier this month in a game played at Wooster.