Tigers Fall To Calvin In Second Round Of NCAA Division III Tournament
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.
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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.