Tiger Field Hockey Records Fourth Shutout In 2-0 Win Over Earlham

SPRINGFIELD, OH - For the sixth time in as many games to open the 2024 season, Wittenberg Field Hockey utilized a combination of stingy defense and timely offense to secure a victory. This time, the Tigers took the measure of visiting Earlham, on a bright, sunny, joyful Homecoming weekend affair.

It was also Senior Recognition Day for the Tigers, who honored a large class prior to the game: Katie Webber (Columbus, OH / Upper Arlington), Victoria Pipinich (Fort Worth, TX / All Saints Episcopal), Lauren Neutzling (Columbus, OH / Bishop Watterson), Shannon Csordos (South Plainfield, NJ / South Plainfield), Lucy DeVita (Columbus, OH / Upper Arlington), Allyson Miller (Saline, MI / Saline), Caitlin Archdeacon (Saratoga, CA / Westmont), and Izzy Thompson (New Albany, OH / New Albany). The team's other senior, Lucy Ripepi (Lakewood, OH / Magnificat) missed the game, so she will be honored before an upcoming game.

 Late in the first quarter, Wittenberg converted a broken play into a goal at the 12:05 mark as Webber's short deflected off Earlham goalkeeper Ainsley Kemp and trickled into the side of the cage. The Tigers held the Quakers scoreless the rest of the half, thanks to some fine defensive work on Earlham's only two shots, which came within seconds. One was blocked by a defensive player, and the other was stuffed by Archdeacon.

Over the final 30 minutes, Earlham managed just one off-target offensive opportunity. The Tigers, on the other hand, controlled most of the play while substituting liberally. The fresh legs paid dividends in the closing seconds as freshman Claire Frient (Dublin, OH / Coffman) found the back of the cage off a feed from sophomore Ebony Wyse (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy) to account for the final margin.

The win extended the best start since 2002 for Wittenberg Field Hockey at 6-0, including a 3-0 mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Earlham fell to 1-10 overall and 1-4 in the league.