Battling Bishops Force Tigers Into Share Of North Coast Title
The Ohio Wesleyan men's lacrosse team took a 12-6 decision off Wittenberg Wednesday night, forcing the previously undefeated Tigers into a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference championship title, both teams finishing at 4-1.
DELAWARE, Ohio — The Ohio Wesleyan men's lacrosse team took a 12-6 decision off Wittenberg Wednesday night, forcing the previously undefeated Tigers into a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference championship title, both teams finishing at 4-1. Wittenberg fell to 10-4 overall but despite the loss, capped off their finest regular season since the varsity program was reinstated in 1983.
The Tigers posted a 10-6 record in 1998, and now 12 years later are in the hunt for their first NCAA Div. III Tournament berth since the program was resurrected. The NCAC title is the first for the Wittenberg men's lacrosse program.
Ohio Wesleyan jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first quarter, and added two goals against the Tigers' one in the second quarter for a 6-2 advantage at the half. Although Wittenberg would close within three several times, the Bishops responded each time. The third quarter was even at two goals for each team, but Ohio Wesleyan achieved their final margin with a 4-2 fourth quarter.
Tiger junior attackman Matt Lord (Pickerington, Ohio/North) has posted one of the best offensive seasons in school history, including one goal in the first quarter, bringing his season total to 41. The single-season scoring record stands at 42, set by both Jeff Mayer and Jeff Collins in 1998.
Junior attacker Brady Christensen (Medina, Ohio/Medina) scored the Tigers' goal in the second quarter and added one in the third to pace the team with two goals, assisted once by Lord and once by senior midfielder Ted Winders (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township). Lord totaled two assists while Winders added one goal. Christensen himself assisted on two goals as well.
Junior attacker Matt Snider (Cookeville, Tenn./Cookeville) and junior midfielderMitch Cohagan (Pickerington, Ohio/North) also scored in the game, and junior defender Dan Gaines (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) led with four caused turnovers.
Junior defensive midfielder Danny Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) picked up a team-high five groundballs in front of totals of three each for junior goalkeeperMark DeOliveira (East Hanover, NJ/East Hanover) and junior defender Kevin Pfotenhauer (Chesterfield, Mo./CBC). DeOliveira took the loss in goal with eight saves.
The Tigers now await word from the NCAA Div. III Men's Lacrosse Tournament Selection Committee on whether they will earn a Pool B bid to the competition, designated for teams that compete in conferences which do not have an automatic qualifier. The selections take place on Sunday, May 9, and will be televised nationally on the CBS College Sports Network at 10 p.m.