Tigers Rebound From Early Setback, Hold On For Win At Denison

---

Liana Began

GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers traveled to Granville, Ohio, to play Denison for the second time this season on Thursday, expecting a battle after the last meeting resulted in an overtime win for the Red & White. A battle is what they got, but without the high score of the previous matchup. The Tigers won 2-1 over the Big Red, improving to 8-6 overall and 5-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. 

Denison started things off quickly this time, scoring in the 15th minute on a penalty corner opportunity. But goalie Liana Began (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) buckled down following Denison's strike, making nine saves against Denison's 17 shots, including seven in just the second half. Began made her fifth start in six games after stepping in on Sept. 30 against Sewanee when Sarah Umberger (Concord, N.H./Derryfield School) left the game with a hamstring injury. In Began's starts, the team has gone 3-2.

The Tigers answered Denison's goal just three minutes into the second half. Tori Casanta (Mason, Ohio/Cor Jesu Academy) scored on an assist from Alison Voigt (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) to even things up. Then, on the momentum of the first goal and just two minutes later, Hannah Schecklehoff (Blacklick, Ohio/Columbus School For Girls) found the cage when offensive standout Boo Vernon (Lake Bluff, Ill./Cushing Academy) gave her the ball for an assist.

That's when Began and the defensive unit turned up the heat, keeping the Big Red from scoring to tie the game. Wittenberg was able to move above .500 in conference action with the win, and will try to add another W to the column on Sunday against Wooster, in the last game of homecoming weekend on Edwards-Maurer Field.

Written by: John Strawn