Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg women's soccer team advanced to the NCAC Tournament Final for the second straight year, defeating Denison 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday night at Edwards-Maurer Field.
Battling wind and rain all evening long, the Tigers managed to take the lead in the 21st minute with a Megan Davis penalty kick. The Big Red would put two goals in before the end of the half to take the 2-1 lead into the intermission. As the rain continued to fall, the anticipation continued to build throughout the second half, as Wittenberg would tie the game in the 80th minute coming off the Kaitlyn Krieg goal from a Kenzie Mason assist.
It would only take four minutes of overtime before Wittenberg would capitalize on the golden goal opportunity. As Leah Soutar found Taylor Vaughn for the go-ahead goal at the 94:09 mark to send the Tigers to the championship round.
KEY STATS
- Wittenberg led the shot count on the night 16-10, as the Tigers were able to find the back of the net in their only attempt on goal in the overtime period.
- The Tigers will make their second consecutive NCAC Tournament Championship appearance, after falling to the Big Red 1-0 in the finals in 2016.
- Wittenberg avenged their NCAC Tournament Championship loss to Denison not once, but twice, taking the Big Red to overtime before securing 3-2 victories in each contest at Edwards-Maurer Field.
- This marks the 5th NCAC Tournament Championship appearance for the Tigers who hold a 4-3 record all-time in winner-take-all games.
- In their 14th NCAC Tournament appearance, the Tigers look to improve upon their overall 12-9 postseason record, this time on the road.
- Wittenberg earned a trip to the 2016 title game a year ago, as the season resulted in a regular season championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.
FROM THE BENCH
- "We have talked a lot about going all in, being able to back up teammates and trusting themselves and each other. Tonight was a perfect example of that and their belief in each other...Couldn't ask for a grittier win on a night like tonight," said Head Coach Katie Robinson.
UP NEXT
- It will be a battle of the top two teams in the NCAC, as #2 Wittenberg travels to #1 Kenyon on Saturday, Nov. 4 for the Tournament Championship at 2:30 PM.