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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg defense once again came to play as the Tigers defeated the Lions of Mount St. Joseph, 1-0.
It was Wittenberg's fourth consecutive shutout victory after a 1-2 start to the season. The lone goal of the game was scored at the halfway marker of the first half. Junior forward Lisa Rusch (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) crossed the ball and it was knocked into the back of the net by teammate Amanda Farrell (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland). Rusch's third assist of the season and Farrell's third goal of the season are both tops on the Tigers.
The second half was the kind of defensive struggle in which the Tigers normally prevail. Coming out stronger than they did in the first, the Tigers controlled the momentum the rest of the game. Allowing only one shot on goal, Tiger goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) was forced into just one save as the Tigers allowed few quality scoring opportunities.
Wittenberg outshot the Lions 7-2, which helped give them the edge that they needed in order to win. The Tigers' record improved to 5-2 overall as the Lions, an NCAA Division III Tournament team a year ago despite a 1-0 loss to Wittenberg on their home turf, dropped to 1-5.
Continued defensive intensity and tenacity will be needed again Friday as Wittenberg faces tough nonconference rival Capital University at 5 p.m. in a key regional road contest.