Wittenberg Rebounds From Rankings Disappointment

Shane Price

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - It may be no coincidence that on the same day the Wittenberg men's soccer team fell off the national rankings, the Tigers opened up against Earlham and hauled off for four goals - their second-highest total of the season - while holding the Quakers to one to dominate a late-season conference game. The team made its point loud clear, letting the collegiate soccer world know that it does not intend on being forced out of the hunt for the postseason.

After an upset loss to Oberlin on Saturday, the voters in the NSCAA/Adidas Division III men's soccer poll were not friendly to the Tigers, who reached their highest ranking in school history at No. 14 just a week ago.

Junior Shane Price (Minford, Ohio/Minford) had a stellar night with three goals in the nightcap of a split-campus doubleheader with Earlham, following a 3-0 win for the Wittenberg women. Price owned the first and last two goals of the night, receiving assistance from Matt Borland (Kettering, Ohio/Alter) and Brian Dickman (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto).

Junior Anthony Cain (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) found the net in the first period, scoring the Tigers' second goal, off an assist from Anthony Ianiro (Mayfield Heights/University School). Even on paper the game was lopsided, with Wittenberg outshooting the Quakers, 19-8, and forcing Earlham goalkeeper Kyle Thompson into nine saves, versus Ben McAnnis-Entenman's (Portland, Ore./Cleveland) four. The Tiger goalkeeper, who fellow players affectionately call "Snacks" after the line of snack foods called Entenman's, allowed the Quaker goal midway through the second period.

Along with the women's soccer team, the Tiger men host Allegheny at noon on Saturday as part two of the homecoming festivities in Springfield, following the women's game at 9:30 a.m. and just before the football team kicks off at 3:30 p.m.

Written by: John Strawn