GRANVILLE, Ohio—With first place in the league standings on the line Wednesday night in Granville, the Wittenberg Tigers women's soccer team's match against Dension was not short on theatrics. The Tigers led 2-0 at halftime, but the Big Red made things interesting as the home team came roaring back with two goals early in the second half, knotting the score up at 2-2.
The Tiger's uncanny ability to find a way to get things done in crunch time was on full display Wednesday night. Taylor Vaughn-Stanton had not found the back of the net for the Tigers since September 3 against #10 Wisconsin Whitewater, but the sophomore forward was saving her best work for the final minute of Wednesday night's match in Granville. On a play where Morgan Jones and Leah Soutar both worked the ball in the box to earn assists, Vaughn-Stanton caught a touch pass in front of the net off of a long cross to stun the Big red with a minute remaining in regulation. As the Tigers went up 3-2 in the match, the final horn would sound with the Tigers on top, as the team from Springfield jumped ahead of the Big Red in the standings atop the NCAC.
MATCH BREAKDOWN
- Wittenberg jumped out to an early lead 30 seconds into the match on a Soutar header that soared past the goalie, as Vaughn-Stanton recorded an assist on the cross.
- In the 26th minute, Shannon Brueck took matters into her own hands, netting her second goal of the season on a rebound from a Denison save that put the Tigers up 2-0 in the first half.
- Denison would score the next two goals in the 59th and 77th minute of the second half, deadlocking things at 2-2.
- Vaughn-Stanton's late goal in the 88th minute would seal the deal for the Tigers, vaulting the red and white into first place in the NCAC standings ,with one regular season match remaining.
KEY STATS
- As a team, Wittenberg was outshot in the match 13-9, but the Tigers goalkeeper, Hannah Wilson, kept the team in the game with three saves in net during her 90 minutes in goal.
- The Tigers garnished six shots on goal Wednesday night, as Denison's keeper recorded three saves.
- Soutar paced the Tigers with two shots on net, including one goal and one assist.
FROM THE COACH
- "As a team, we continue to show an incredible amount of grit and determination. All in all, our women deserved tonight's victory," said Coach Fannon.
UP NEXT
- Wittenberg closes out the regular season with a 1:00PM match against the College of Wooster on the road on Saturday, October 29.