Groves Hat Trick Leads Tiger Field Hockey To Win Over Sewanee

SPRINGFIELD, OH - A week after completing a successful season-opening road trip to New York with back-to-back shutouts, Wittenberg Field Hockey opened the home portion of the 2024 schedule with a 4-2 decision against Sewanee.

While Wittenberg improved to 3-0 on the young season, Sewanee fell to 1-3. The visiting Tigers had won their first game of the season a day earlier at Earlham.

The host Tigers took an early lead on a goal from Devyn Groves (LaGrange, KY / Oldham County Senior) off a feed from Aysha Johnson (Kettering, OH / Fairmont) just three minutes into the game. After Sewanee evened things up, Wittenberg scored a second-quarter goal as Lucy DeVita (Columbus, OH / Upper Arlington) found the back of the cage and a third-quarter goal provided by Groves.

A little more than one minute after Groves' second goal, Sewanee pulled within one, but Groves took care of things herself, completing the hat trick less than two minutes into the fourth quarter without the aid of an assist.

The host Tigers led the way offensively with 17 shots, compared to Sewanee's nine, and Wittenberg was awarded eight penalty corners in the game. Sewanee did not attempt a penalty corner.

In goal, the win went to Caitlin Archdeacon (Saratoga, CA / Westmont) as she made one save in 30 minutes of action. Izzy Thompson (New Albany, OH / New Albany) went the rest of the way, making three saves.

Groves was tremendously efficient offensively, scoring three goals on just four official shot attempts. Lucy Ripepi (Lakewood, OH / Magnificat) led the way in shots for Wittenberg with seven. Johnson dished out two assists, while Lauren Neutzling (Columbus, OH / Bishop Watterson) also recorded an assist.