CLEARWATER, Fla. - Persistence was rewarded as the Wittenberg Tigers opened their 2016 Spring Break trip to the Sunshine State with an 8-7 double overtime victory over Rochester.

The win was Wittenberg's second of the young season without a defeat. Rochester fell to 0-2. The Tigers will wrap up Spring Break competition with a game against Alfred on Thursday, March 10.

The two teams traded the lead back and forth in the first half, ending with a 4-4 deadlock by halftime. Rochester then took control over the first nine minutes of the second half with three straight goals.

From that point, it was all Wittenberg, starting with a goal by senior Olivia Lash (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) at the 20:15 mark. Junior Haley Schroeder (Granville, Ohio/Granville) pulled the Tigers within one goal just 28 seconds later, but the two teams then played 15 minutes of scoreless lacrosse.

Junior Becca Joseph (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula) drew Wittenberg even with an unassisted goal at the 4:39 mark, forcing the extra sessions. After a scoreless first overtime, Lash sent the Tigers back to their hotel victorious with an unassisted tally with 1:37 left on the clock in the second overtime.

Lash led Wittenberg's offense with three goals and one assist, while senior Carrie Kubasta (Medina, Ohio/Medina) added two scores. Joseph chipped in with one goal and one assist, Schroeder and sophomore Sarah Farnsworth (Louisville, Ky./Louisville Collegiate) each scored goals, and sophomore Victoria Zysik (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) rounded out the offense with an assist.

Kubasta posted team-highs of five ground balls and three caused turnovers in the game. In goal, senior Katie Reuter (Cleveland, Ohio/Hathaway Brown) was credited with nine saves as Rochester held a slim 26-23 advantage in shots.

Written By: Ryan Maurer