Season in Review

The Wittenberg men's soccer team got off to a slow start to the 2003 season, came on strong in the middle of the season but then faltered a bit down the stretch while featuring a young team that included eight new starters. After losing five of their first six games, the Tigers rebounded to win six of their next eight games before losing three of four to close the campaign with an 8-10 overall record.

Steve Doring

Setting the Scene:

The Wittenberg men's soccer team got off to a slow start to the 2003 season, came on strong in the middle of the season but then faltered a bit down the stretch while featuring a young team that included eight new starters. After losing five of their first six games, the Tigers rebounded to win six of their next eight games before losing three of four to close the campaign with an 8-10 overall record.

It was another gut-wrenching season of close games for the Tigers, who seem to be making a habit out of playing every opponent, no matter who they are, close to the very end. In 2003, Wittenberg played 12 one-goal games, in which the Tigers compiled a record of 5-7. In addition, Wittenberg played seven overtime games, and compiled a record of 3-4.

What does all this mean? It means that the Tigers may have been in a rebuilding year, but they hardly lacked competitiveness despite playing a very difficult schedule that included many of the Great Lakes Region's top teams and four NAIA scholarship programs. Just three games all year were decided by more than two goals, with the Tigers going 1-2 in those games. And while competing in the rugged North Coast Athletic Conference, the Tigers finished right in the thick of things with a 5-4 record, despite the fact that four NCAC schools finished the season receiving votes in the national polls.

Postseason Honors:

Freshman Sebastian Missura (Quita, Ecuador/The American School) earned second-team All-NCAC honors after leading the Tigers with nine goals and one assist for 19 total points. Sophomore Matt Berry (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) and seniors Steve Doring (Dayton, Ohio/Wayne) and Tim Fogler (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) were rewarded for their performance in 2003 with honorable mention all-conference.

Youth Movement:

The Tiger men's soccer roster featured just four seniors and two juniors out of 31 players in 2003, giving new definition to the idea of youth movement. More often than not, the majority of players on the field were underclassmen.

Just three players started all 18 games, sophomore Jesse King (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), senior Greg Zeller (Springfield, Ohio/North) and Fogler. Twelve different players started at least half of the 18 games, and four of them were freshman, including goalkeeper Adam Horrocks (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes), who appeared in 16 games, starting 15. Eight starters are expected to be back in the fold in 2004, including the team's top three scorers - Missura with 19 points, Berry with 14 points and sophomore Andy Stewart (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) with 10 points. Defensively, the Tigers can expect the starting netminder, Horrocks, and at least two of the four starting defenders, freshmen Nick Hauff (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) and David Caputo (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro), back on the field in 2004.

Andy Stewart

Super Seniors:

As mentioned previously, the men's soccer program bid adieu to four seniors in 2003. Zeller and Fogler started every game in 2003 and were four-year letterwinners. Both started for one of the best defensive units in the region all four years. The Tigers allowed more than two goals just five times in 18 games in 2004.

Doring was a four-year starter who primarily played defense from his midfield position. He pushed up with frequency, however, and finished his career with seven goals, seven assists and 21 total points. His career-high in goals came in 2003 (3) and he had three assists in a season twice (2001 and 2002). He was a three-time All-NCAC honoree. Rounding out the senior class was goalkeeper Matt Sharp (Mainville, Ohio/Middletown Fenwick), who appeared in 27 games, including 18 starts, during his career. He made 85 saves and gave up 30 goals. His best season was 2002 when he started 13 games and appeared in 17. He allowed 26 goals in 1,160 minutes. He made 56 saves.

The Coach:

Steve Dawson ends his 20th year guiding the Tigers with a record of 207-140-17. Under Dawson's guidance, the Tigers have won at least seven games in each of his 20 seasons and have advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament four times (1991, '92, '93 and '96). The Tigers have won at least four games every year in the NCAC, considered one of the toughest soccer conferences in the nation, and the 1993 team tied for the NCAC championship.