Wittenberg Scores in Rare Fashion to Tie Game Just Before Lightning Cancellation

Ben McAnnis- Entenman

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - In Division III soccer, it's a rare event to see a goalkeeper become a forward. Even rarer is seeing that goalkeeper score a goal. Add the fact that senior Ben McAnnis-Entenman (Portland, Ore./Cleveland) scored the game-tying goal off a header, and Saturday's matchup against DePauw becomes one that live on in the memories of every Tiger fan present.

Down 1-0 with just 1:50 left on the clock in the second period, Tiger Head Coach Steve Dawson made a brave move, pulling McAnnis-Entenman from his goal and sending him down to take part in a free kick in DePauw territory. Junior defender Justin Jenkins (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) lifted the kick towards the goal, where McAnnis-Entenman angled the ball into the goal for the tie.

The remaining 1:43 on the clock ran out and the game was set to go to overtime when rumbles of thunder started to sound. About two minutes into the first overtime, the officiating staff caught a glimpse of a streak of lightning east of campus and convened the coaches, who decided that rather than wait it out, both teams would accept a tie.

The Tigers, now 3-0-1 on the young season, likely chose to accept the tie in light of their pending matchup tomorrow against Rose-Hulman (3-1) at 3 p.m.

McAnnis-Entenman ended the game with seven saves, while the Wittenberg Tigers managed just two total shots on goal, those coming from McAnnis-Entenman and junior forward Shane Price (Minford, Ohio/Minford).

Written By: John Strawn