Wittenberg forward Shane Price, class of 2009
Springfield, Ohio — The Wittenberg University men's soccer team will kick off the 2007 season by welcoming three outstanding opponents to Edwards-Maurer Field this weekend for the annual Wittenberg Invitational.
Tri-State University, Kenyon College and Otterbein College will join the host Tigers in this year's Wittenberg Invitational. Two games will be played on both days, starting with a contest between Tri-State and Wittenberg at Noon Saturday, Sept. 1. Kenyon and Otterbein square off at 2:30 p.m. that day. On Sunday, Sept. 2, Kenyon and Tri-State will square off at 1 p.m., followed by Wittenberg and Otterbein at 3:30 p.m.
The Tigers have the makings of a quality team in 2007, with expectations buoyed by a productive training/educational trip to England earlier this month. The Tigers played four games against top-quality competition during the 11-day tour, which ended Aug. 17.
Coming off an 8-8-2 season in 2006, including a 4-4-1 mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), Wittenberg was picked to finish fourth in the league this year, ranking behind nationally ranked Ohio Wesleyan, defending regular season champion Denison and perennial powerhouse Allegheny. In 2007, the Tigers welcome 13 letterwinners, including eight starters, back to a deep roster bolstered by a strong recruiting class.
The three teams joining the Tigers in the 2007 Wittenberg Invitational will provide strong competition. Tri-State, coached by former Wittenberg assistant coach Kris Hazard, class of 1991, is coming off a 5-13-2 overall record a year ago, Hazard's first with the program. Otterbein, the 2002 NCAA Division III runner-up and Wittenberg Invitational champion three of the last four years, posted an 8-8-1 record in 2006, the Cardinals' second straight .500 season. Kenyon, which is led by former Wittenberg coach Chris Brown for a third straight year, finished 4-9-4 overall and 2-4-3 in the rugged NCAC a year ago.
Steve Dawson returns to Wittenberg this year for his 25th season as the university's men's soccer head coach with a career record of 237-175-25. He ranks among the top 40 in NCAA Division III all-time coaching victories.
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