Tigers Fall To Defiance In Season Opener

Daniel Broidy

DEFIANCE, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers took more shots than their opponent and attempted a whopping 11 corner kicks in their season-opening match against host Defiance, but they weren't able to parlay those offensive opportunities into points on the scoreboard, losing 1-0 on the first day of the Defiance College Classic.

The Tigers, coming off a 5-10-3 record in the 2010 season, dropped to 0-1 on the new season.

The final result came down to a pivotal two-minute sequence late in the game. After Wittenberg freshman Mitch Rudibaugh (Dayton, Ohio/Coffman) hit the crossbar in the 81st minute and the Tigers' 10th corner kick of the game ended in a missed shot by senior Stefan Latham (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central), the Yellow Jackets countered with a pair of shots from Jaiden Henderson in the 83rd minute. After the first attempt was blocked, a pass from Joseph Loftis to Henderson led to the game's lone tally and a 1-0 Defiance win.

Senior Daniel Broidy (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) led the Tigers with three shots in the game, while junior Marshall Rowland (Pewee Valley, Ky./South Oldham) and freshman Shawn Doak (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) added two apiece. The Tigers outshot Defiance 14-5 in the game, but just five of Wittenberg's attempts were on frame, and all were saved.

At the other end, Tiger senior goalkeeper Mike Lambeck (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) was credited with one save in the game.