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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - For the second straight year, the end of the road for the Wittenberg Tigers came on the home field of the Calvin Crusaders. Unlike last year's first round 4-0 stunner against the University of Chicago, however, the Tigers returned home with at least a moral victory after reaching the second round and playing the host Crusaders to a near standoff in a 1-0 loss.
Wittenberg completed the 2009 season with a 12-5-5 overall record, while Calvin advanced to the third round with a 15-4-1 record. The Tigers had reached the second round with a 3-1 win on Friday over Ohio Northern, while the Crusaders defeated Washington & Jefferson, 4-0.
With 14 shots split nearly evenly (eight for Calvin and six for Wittenberg) and six saves split right down the middle, the difference in the game was a goal by Calvin's Emily Ottenhoff in the 42nd minute. A header off a corner kick from Lauren Heyboer, the goal stood up thanks to a defensive unit that pitched NCAA shutouts on back-to-back days.
Sophomore Sheryl Chambers (Victorville, Calif./St. Joan of Arc) led the Tigers with three shots in the game, followed by junior Erin McLeish (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto), senior Rachael Radel (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview) and sophomore Allie Keefer (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East), each of whom finished with one shot. McLeish and Keefer put their only strikes on goal, while Chambers put one of her three on goal.
Wittenberg now has a 3-2-2 record in NCAA Division III Tournament play. The Tigers have made four straight appearances after winning the last four North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament titles.