GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers put a bow on the 2005 season with an 18-6 loss at Denison Saturday in Granville. The loss dropped Wittenberg to 6-8 overall and 2-4 in the NCAC, while the Big Red clinched the regular season title with a 5-0 record.

The Tigers hung tough through the first half and trailed just 7-4 at halftime against the NCAC regular season champions. But in the final 30 minutes, the Tiger defense was besieged as Denison poured in 11 goals on just 13 total shots, a lower number than in the first half (19). For the game, the Big Red outshot the Tigers 32-17.

Wittenberg picked up four goals from sophomore Melissa Jackson, the fourth time this season she has scored four or more goals in a game, and single tallies from sophomore Kari Thomas and junior Emily Hiscar. Assists were credited to freshman Amber Cupples and sophomore Michelle Hanners.

The six wins in 2005 were a significant improvement over the 2004 total of two, while the loss total of eight was a match for a year ago (with four extra games played). The Tigers are expected to return all but two players from the 2005 squad, although the graduation losses will be significant as attacker Jenny Burns and defender Carrie Happ, both all-conference performers during their careers, depart.