Slow Start Stops Tigers In NCAC Loss To Ohio Wesleyan
The Wittenberg Tigers and Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops battled to an 8-8 draw over the final three quarters of Wednesday's game at Edwards-Maurer Field.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers and Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops battled to an 8-8 draw over the final three quarters of Wednesday's game at Edwards-Maurer Field. Problem for the Tigers is, the game went the full four quarters and Ohio Wesleyan scored the first five goals of what turned out to be a 13-8 victory.
OWU took a 5-0 lead through the end of the first quarter before the Tigers responded with goals by junior Mike Provost (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) and freshman Jeff Capella (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) to open the second quarter. The Bishops struck right back with three straight goals to end the half and take a commanding 8-2 lead into the intermission.
Wittenberg went on to score five of the last seven goals of the game, but it wasn't enough. Capella led with three goals, junior Jon Van Vranken (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) added two tallies and junior Brandon Hulett (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) contributed a team-high three assists.
Defensively, senior goalkeeper Pat Garlock (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles) made seven saves and senior Bryan Arnold (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) led with six ground balls. The two teams finished almost even in total shots and ground balls, but the Tigers lost 18-of-23 faceoffs in the game, were charged with 12 unsuccessful clears and went just 1-for-9 in man-up situations.