Head Coach Norm Riker

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg women's soccer Head Coach Norm Riker earned his 100th victory as a Tiger Friday night, guiding the team to a 4-0 victory over Manchester and a 5-2 overall record on the season. Riker hits the centennial mark in his ninth season on the sideline at Wittenberg.

The longest tenured head coach in women's soccer history at Wittenberg, Riker took over the mantle of winningest coach as well in 2005, just three years after taking the reins. A turn as the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Coach of the Year in 2004 kicked off a run of success for Riker's program, which has produced four straight NCAC tournament championships and NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.

In 2007, Riker guided the Tigers to the finest season in school history, evidenced by an 18-3-3 overall record and the first-ever undefeated conference record (6-0-2) and regular season championship. One year prior, Riker delivered Wittenberg's first NCAA tournament victory in the first of four straight appearances in the playoffs.

"I can't take credit for any of this by myself," Riker said following the win. "This really goes to all the student-athletes that have built this program to what it is today, to their efforts on the field. I just want to say 'thank you' to all of the players."

Riker's defense, a hallmark of the Tigers in recent history, had posted an incredible 93 shutouts in his time as coach. Friday night became No. 94 when time expired in the second half without a goal on the board for the Spartans. Limited to just one shot in the match, Manchester faced 19 shots from the Wittenberg attack, eight of them on goal.

Sophomore Melissa Gartner (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) spent the first 45 minutes in goal without facing a shot. She gave way to sophomore Cassie Lythjohan (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville), who stopped the only shot she faced.

In the offensive zone, sophomore midfielder Leslie Oliver (Enon, Ohio/Greenon) led the way with two goals on four shots, followed by sophomore forward/midfielder Kailey Striebel (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) who tallied one goal on three shots, two on goal.

Senior forward Cailyn Roeble (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) also notched three shots, while senior defender Erin McLeish (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) and junior forward Sheryl Chambers (Victorville, Calif./St. Joan of Arc) each shot twice, and a quintet of Tigers each registered one shot.

The Tigers posted three goals in the first period, including the first just 2:46 off the foot of Striebel, her third on the season. Oliver delivered the second only 12 minutes later, and with three minutes remaining freshman forward Jennifer Miller (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) struck for the third on an assist from sophomore forward Grace Winzeler (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto). Oliver scored the fourth goal in the second period on an assist from junior midfielder Allie Keefer (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East).

The Tigers return to the pitch in just two days, hosting Capital for a 7 p.m. match on Sunday, Sept. 19, at home on Edwards-Maurer Field.

John Strawn '07