Five-Goal Outburst In Second Half Carries Tigers Past Earlham

Season finale goes from tight game in the first half to a comfortable 6-1 victory to secure fourth place in NCAC regular season standings.

The Tigers were united in their 2015 regular season finale against Earlham. File Photo | Blake Nelson '17
The Tigers were united in their 2015 regular season finale against Earlham. File Photo | Blake Nelson '17
October 31, 2015
Box Score

RICHMOND, Ind. - Five second-half goals propelled Wittenberg to a 6-1 victory over host Earlham in the 2015 regular season finale.

The win was Wittenberg's eighth in their last 11 games following an 0-7 start to the campaign. The Tigers will take records of 8-10 overall and 8-6 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) into the league tournament, starting with a semifinal game at Kenyon at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Earlham actually started in the scoring with a goal just 2:19 into the contest. It took Wittenberg more than 24 minutes to even the score as freshman Blaine Donnelly (Hanover, Md./Archbishop Spalding) found the back of the cage without the benefit of an assist in the 27th minute.

The second half was all Wittenberg, starting with a pair of unassisted goals by senior Paige Vanerstrom (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) in the 45th and 53rd minutes. Sophomore Audrey Coler (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) was next into the books with a goal in the 57th minute, followed by sophomore Maddie Goelz (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) just 1:23 later and senior Emma Foster (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) in the 69th minute.

Senior Andrea Mattingly (Louisville, Ky./Mercy Academy) was credited with Wittenberg's lone assist in the game.

The final shot count was 22-8 in favor of the visiting Tigers, including a 13-3 margin in the second half. Wittenberg was awarded 13 penalty corners in the game, compared to six for Earlham.

Junior goalkeeper Sarah Brownell (Ocnomowoc, Wis./University Lake School) made four saves, in addition to a defensive save awarded to junior Michaela Bowler (Lake Bluff, Ill./Woodlands Academy).

Written By: Ryan Maurer