Emma Box Nets Game-Winner In Double Overtime Against Hiram

Emily Thomas (20) and the Tigers earned a clutch three points at Hiram to move into fourth place in the NCAC standings. File Photo | Nick Falzerano
Emily Thomas (20) and the Tigers earned a clutch three points at Hiram to move into fourth place in the NCAC standings. File Photo | Nick Falzerano

HIRAM, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers defeated the Hiram Terriers at Hiram in a double overtime thriller as freshman Emma Box (Springfield, Ohio/Graham) netted the game-winner in a 3-2 win.

The win improved the Tigers to records of 8-5-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), while Hiram fell to 5-11-0 overall and 1-5-0 in the league. The victory provided three hard-earned points for the Tigers, who moved into fourth place in the standings. Only the top four teams earn berths in the NCAC Tournament.

The scoring opened in the 11th minute as senior Kate Burns (Granger, Ind./Penn) beat the Hiram goalkeeper after a through ball from sophomore Leah Soutar (Troy, Ohio/Troy). The Terriers equalized with a goal of their own in the next minute from a corner kick, and Hiram then took the lead in the 18th minute.

Wittenberg rallied back in the second half as Burns scored an unassisted goal off her own rebound in the 63rd minute to level the score. The first overtime conceded no goals, which gave way to a second overtime. In the second minute of final 10-minute session, Box bounced a shot over the defenders and into the back of the net for the Tigers.

The game was even in corner kicks at five apiece and Wittenberg won the shot count 19-13.  Ten Wittenberg players finished with at least one shot, led by Burns with three. Freshman Megan Davis (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Pickerington Central) also finished with three shots, and box recorded 2, both of them being on goal. 

Wittenberg ends the season with two conference home games on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 31, against Denison and Wooster, respectively.

Written By: Sam Klarer '16