SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The best start in program history carried over into the start of the 2010 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) season as the Wittenberg Tigers pulled out a heart-stopping 12-11 victory.
The win moved the Tigers to 7-1 overall and 1-0 in the NCAC, while Allegheny fell to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
After scoring the first two goals of the game, Wittenberg struggled against a wind that gusted to as much as 50 miles per hour, falling behind 6-4 by halftime. Playing with the wind in the second half, however, the Tigers rallied to take a 10-8 lead on four straight goals between the 20:12 mark and the 15:36 mark.
Allegheny came right back to tie the game on a goal with 6:22 remaining, but the Tigers were equal to the challenge. Sophomore Krissy Battles (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) forced an Allegheny turnover behind the Gators' goal and took the ensuing possession and scored an unassisted goal. Just over a minute later, junior Maggie Amorello (Sutton, Mass./Worcester Academy) added a much-needed insurance goal, setting up a frantic final 68 seconds.
Allegheny won a scramble off the next draw control and stormed down the field for a quick score to pull within one. The Gators won the next draw as well, but the Tiger defense stiffened, allowing several scoring chances but no clean shot attempts before the horn sounded.
Battles scored two goals in the game, one of four multi-goal scorers for the Tigers. Freshman Kellen Morrissey (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) added two goals and one assist, Amorello contributed three scores and sophomore Jenn Close (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) finished with three goals and one assist. In addition, seniorJoelle Ghanem (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) chipped in with one goal and three assists.
Just as importantly, Ghanem contributed four key draw controls to lead the team. In addition, freshman Katie Warner (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) led the Tigers with five ground balls and three caused turnovers.