Tigers Own Otterbein From Start In Final Non-Conference Tilt
After nine unanswered first-half goals, the Wittenberg men's lacrosse team was in total control the whole way against Otterbein's first-year program on Saturday.
Springfield, Ohio - After nine unanswered first-half goals, the Wittenberg men's lacrosse team was in total control the whole way against Otterbein's first-year program on Saturday. The Tigers cruised to a 15-4 victory in their last non-conference regular season game of the year to improve to 10-3 overall.
With the win, the Tigers have reached 10 wins for the second time since the varsity program was reinstated in 1983. Wittenberg finished the 1998 season 10-6, and at just three losses thus far, the current team has secured the best regular season record (by percentage) since 1983.
After senior Jeff Capella (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) opened the scoring three minutes into the game, junior Matt Lord (Pickerington, Ohio/North)rattled off three straight goals as part of a five-goal day to lead his team.
Junior Brady Christensen (Medina, Ohio/Medina) next scored two of his four goals back-to-back in under a minute followed by scores from senior Ted Winders (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) and sophomore Jim Ferris (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids). Lord added his fourth with 40 seconds remaining in the second quarter to send the Tigers to a 9-0 lead at the half.
Otterbein finally scratched the board with a goal just 16 seconds into the third quater. Much of the Tigers' roster saw time in the second half, in which the scoring margin was 6-4 in favor of Wittenberg.
Christensen picked up two of his goals in the third quarter and Ferris added a second tally in the fourth, while freshman Tyler Hall (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Twp.)scored twice, in the process doubling his season goal total.
Junior Mitch Cohagan (Pickerington, Ohio/North) picked up three assists in the game and junior Matt Snider (Cookeville, Tenn./Cookeville) was credited with one. In other facets of the game, freshman Alex Previte (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman)and sophomore Elliot Avis (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) led the team in groundballs with five apiece. Avis was an exceptional 14-of-15 in faceoffs throughout the contest.
The Tigers wrap up their regular season schedule with the last North Coast Athletic Conference game of the season at Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday, May 5, with conference title implications. At 3-1, the Battling Bishops can threaten to tie up the 4-0 Tigers and split first-place honors. Already guaranteed a share of their first NCAC title, the Tigers would earn sole possession with a win.