Early Scoring Keeps Tigers On Top Of Adrian

Sheryl Chambers

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A 2-0 lead heading into halftime propelled the Wittenberg women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over visiting Adrian Saturday afternoon. The Tigers stayed perfect at home with their second straight victory and improved to 2-2 overall.

The lead developed quickly in the 23rd and 24th minutes, as junior Kailey Striebel (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) and senior Sheryl Chambers (Victorville, Calif./St. Joan of Arc) both found the net in unassisted fashion. Striebel's score took an indirect route, deflecting off the goalkeeper and the post before finding the goal.

The two goals came on a 9-2 shooting advantage for the Tigers in the first period. Bulldog goalkeeper Chayna Wallace stopped six attempts in the period and would finish with 11 saves in the match, while Wittenberg's junior keeper Melissa Gartner (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) was forced into just three saves throughout the match.

The Tigers shot 10 more times in the second period, compared to six shots from Adrian, amounting to a 19-8 shot advantage overall for Wittenberg. Only one of the Tigers' second period shots came from senior Taylor Goss (Sandy Spring, Md./Friends School), but she made it count and handed the Tigers a 3-0 lead in the 71st minute.

Adrian ended the shutout with an unassisted, breakaway goal from Sam Barker with just over one second remaining on the clock.

The Tigers found the net frequently but the score held up thanks to the work of the defense, including the starting unit of junior Lauren McMahon (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline), junior Kelly Brothers (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) and senior Lauren McMahon (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson).

Wittenberg returns to the pitch tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 11, with a Noon match hosting the Titans of Illinois Wesleyan at Edwards-Maurer Field.

John Strawn '07