Season Opener Goes The Other Way For Tigers

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wilmington's three-goal first period proved to be an obstacle too big to overcome as the Wittenberg Tigers fell by a 3-2 score to open the season and move to 0-1-0 on the new campaign.

The Quakers struck quickly, scoring all three of their goals in the first 33 minutes of the game, setting the Tigers back too far. After Wilmington scored its first in the 18th minute, Wittenberg answered to tie the game at one-all, but the Quakers scored two more times before the break. The Tigers added one goal 20 minutes into the second period, but could not close the gap before time expired.

For Wittenberg, sophomore Declan McBride (Surrey, England/Tasis) scored in the first period to knot things up off of an assist from senior captain Michael Condon (Powell, Ohio/Watterson). Sophomore Stefan Latham (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) followed with the only goal of the second period to close the score to a 3-2 deficit which would last the remainder.

Wittenberg totaled 10 shots, seven on goal, to Wilmington's 13, 11 of which came in the first period.

Wittenberg sophomore keeper Michael Lambeck (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) saved six shots in the first period before giving way to sophomore David Rea (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River), who made a scoreless collegiate debut, in part thanks to bolstered defensive play over the final 45 minutes. Rea faced just one shot, and it was not on goal, over the last 45 minutes.

Faced with an 0-1-0 record to start the season, Wittenberg takes a few days off before returning to the pitch at Transylvania in the Transylvania Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 5, slated to begin at 1 p.m.

Written By: John Strawn, Sports Information Assistant