Third Straight NCAC Tournament Title Buys Ticket To NCAA Playoffs
The top-seeded Wittenberg University Tigers captured the second of three team goals they had set for themselves prior to the season.
2004 NCAC Tournament Champions
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The top-seeded Wittenberg University Tigers captured the second of three team goals they had set for themselves prior to the season. The first goal was realized last Saturday when Wittenberg defeated Oberlin to secure the North Coast Athletic Conference regular season crown. And today the second goal was checked off the list as the Tigers won the NCAC Tournament championship by defeating a tough Kenyon team, 4-2. The win gave the Tigers their third straight NCAC Tournament championship and also guaranteed the Tigers a shot at achieving their third and final season-goal, an NCAA Division III national championship.
In the first half, Kenyon wasted little time getting on the board as Caroline Graham scored only five minutes into the game off an assist from teammate Kate Flinner. Wittenberg, just as great teams do, answered their opponents' challenge just 57 seconds later as sophomore Rachel Dunn scored off an assist from senior Blair Ufer. With the score tied 1-1 early in the first half, it was tough to give either team the advantage, but Wittenberg soon stole the momentum. With 19:45 left in the first half, Wittenberg took its first lead of the game as Ufer slammed home a goal off a penalty stroke. Leading 2-1, the Tigers pounced as sophomore Katy Barrett scored what would be the first of her two goals, giving Wittenberg what should have been a commanding 3-1 lead. However, the Ladies of Kenyon quickly answered the Tiger threat with a goal of their own, making the halftime score 3-2.
Although not as exciting as the first half, the second half provided its opportunities for both teams. Kenyon got a number of nice looks at the Tiger goal, firing off nine second-half shots, five of which were saved by freshman goalie Nicole Irvin. The Tigers answered with eight of their own shots, but it wasn't until the eighth and final shot that the Tigers delivered their knock-out punch. With only four minutes left in the game, Barrett scored her second goal to cap off the Tiger's 4-2 victory.
Wittenberg placed five players on the all-tournament team - junior Julia Wickham, seniors Sarah Wallace, Melanie Boss and Carrie Happ and sophomore Rachel Dunn. Tournament MVP honors were awarded to Blair Ufer, who continued her impressive play with two goals and three assists in the tournament. Runner-up Kenyon placed four players on the all-tournament team - Kate Flinner, Liz Aragona, Hannah Hill and Caroline Graham. Wooster and Oberlin, the two semifinalists who lost games during the week, also placed players on the all-tournament team - Kelley Hubbell and Ann Leigh of Wooster and Jaime Johnson of Oberlin.
The Tigers will take their 15-4 overall record and third straight NCAC Tournament championship into the NCAA Division III Tournament. It is the third year in a row that the Tigers have advanced to the tournament. After being overmatched in each of the two previous years, this Tiger team will go into the tournament not only as a more talented team, but also as a more experienced team. As the Tigers wait to hear the who, when and where of the tournament, they are most definitely poised to bring home the school's first NCAA Tournament victory in field hockey.