Big Offense, Stiff Defense Take Care Of Pioneers

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg field hockey team improved to 8-7 overall with a 4-1 victory after holding visiting Transylvania to three shots Friday night.

The Tigers mounted an offensive attack that totalled 29 shots, including 17 in the first half and 12 in the second.

Freshman Audrey Phibbs (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) pushed in the Tigers' first two goals, powering her team to a 3-0 halftime lead following a goal from senior Elizabeth Dwyer (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue) off an assist from freshman Beth Warning (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame). Warning also assisted on one of Phibbs' goals.

Dwyer returned the favor in the second half, passing from beside the goal to Warning in front of the cage where she lifted a shot over the Pioneer goalkeeper. Transylvania scratched the scoreboard shortly after to make it 4-1.

The Tiger defense buckled down to hold Transylvania at bay, even holding Transylvania to two penalty corners against Wittenberg's 12. Leading the effort was sophomore Mallory Skrobot (Dublin, Ohio/Watterson), who made a defensive save in the first half.

Senior goalkeeper Jenny Schaafsma (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) faced just two shots in the first half, one off target and one saved by Skrobot. The lack of a threat prohibited Schaafsma from moving closer to the top five in the Tiger record books in saves, where she stands sixth with 332 career stops, 11 behind Georgina Klinzing, who played from 1998 to 2001.

Senior Alyssa Ashbaugh (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) took over in the cage for the second half.

The Tigers find themselves with a quiet week before hosting North Coast Athletic Conference rival Kenyon (5-8, 5-4 NCAC), who on Tuesday defeated the College of wooster for the first time in four years. The Ladies and the Tigers start the action at Edwards-Maurer Field at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21. Join the Tiger Sports Network for live statistics and audio/video right here on the Wittenberg athletics website.

John Strawn '07