GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tiger women's soccer program is clearly on the rise this year, but that doesn't make losses like Wednesday's at Denison University any less painful. The Tigers lost a key North Coast Athletic Conference game to Denison, ranked No. 14 in the nation, by a 2-1 score.

Wittenberg struck first in the 22nd minute when Lisa Rusch scored an unassisted goal to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. It stayed that way until Denison's Megan Troy scored off a deflected ball near the net to tie the game going into halftime.

With the score still knotted at one, Wittenberg was awarded a penalty kick after a foul in front of the Denison goal, but Rusch, the team's leading scorer, was stymied in her attempt to put the Tigers ahead as Denison goalkeeper Liz Gillette made the save. It was Wittenberg's first penalty kick attempt of the 2004 season.

The game-winner came off a corner kick that was initially saved by Wittenberg freshman goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke. The rebound shot was saved by a Tiger defender in front of the goal, but the second rebound was deposited into the upper left corner of the net.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 10-3-4 overall and 4-3 in the NCAC, heading into a key game on Saturday at Oberlin, while the Big Red improved to 14-4 overall and 6-1 in the NCAC. Wittenberg must defeat the Yeowomen to qualify for one of the four spots in the NCAC Tournament, which opens with semifinal games on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the home sites of the top two seeded teams, Ohio Wesleyan and Denison.