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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - One-nothing wins are becoming something of a pattern around Springfield. For the fourth game in a row, the Tigers shutout their opponent and scored just once for the win over the Ohio Northern Polar Bears.
That four-game win streak joins four previous 2007 games to make eight shutouts on the season for the Red & White. This also marks the first game following the Tigers' rocket shot up the national charts to number nine in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll. Head Coach Norm Riker described the victory as "a big win" mentally for the team. The last time the Tigers made a ranking (No. 18 on Sept. 11), they fell the very next day to Transylvania, 1-0.
For senior goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) the 2007 shutout count goes beyond just this season. Earning her 38th career shutout against the Polar Bears, she now stands just three shutouts off the NCAC career record of 41, set in 2001 by Denison goalie Elizabeth Clapacs.
Senior midfielder Amanda Farrell (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) tallied the Tigers' only goal, faking left and scoring on a header to the right. The assist went to senior forward Amy Meige (Westerville, Ohio/DeSales).
The Tigers open up conference play in the tough North Coast Athletic Conference on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. against Wooster, as part of Wittenberg Family Weekend on the second-busiest fall day for Wittenberg sports, falling short of only Homecoming.
Written By: John Strawn