Wittenberg Holds On For 2-1 Win Over Centre
The Wittenberg Tigers are now off to the best start in school history at 6-0 after defeating visiting Centre 2-1 at Edwards-Maurer Field.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers are now off to the best start in school history at 6-0 after defeating visiting Centre 2-1 at Edwards-Maurer Field.
Wittenberg started the 1984 and 1990 seasons 4-0 and the 2007 campaign 4-0-1 (before losing twice at Centre's tournament, ironically), but no Tiger men's soccer team has ever reached the six-win plateau this quickly. The visiting Colonels dropped to 5-2 in 2008.
The Tigers accomplished their latest win with a combination of style and substance, withstanding a physical confrontation with a perennial top-25 team by maintaining control in the midfield and converting on two of several quality scoring chances.
The Tigers' first goal of the game came off the foot of junior midfielder Brian Glenn (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy), who finished a play started by senior forward Matt Borland (Kettering, Ohio/Alter). After Centre tied the game late in the first half on a cross that floated inadvertently into the top corner of the Wittenberg goal, the Tigers put home the game-winner on a header by senior forward Shane Price (Minford, Ohio/Minford). That came off a long throw-in by Borland.
Defensively, the Tigers played a solid game overall, allowing 12 Centre shots but few exceptional scoring chances. Freshman goalkeeper Michael Lambeck (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) started and was credited with three saves before being replaced by freshman goalkeeper Steve Fitzpatrick (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), who came up three saves, including a clutch punch-out of a tough shot midway through the second half.
Overall, Centre held a 12-11 edge in total shots and a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks