Tigers Clinch Share Of Second Straight NCAC Title

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - With an 18-12 victory over visiting Wooster, the Wittenberg Tigers moved within one game of completing perhaps the most unlikely four-year run North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) women's lacrosse has ever witnessed.

In the eight years prior to the start of the 2012 season, Wittenberg had not recorded a winning record in league play. Since a loss on the final day of the 2011 season, however, Wittenberg has not lost an NCAC regular season game, reeling off 29 straight victories against league competition.

The latest victory came against a Wooster team that had won its first seven NCAC games of the 2015 season to stand atop the league standings by one-half game. The Tigers, who have one game remaining in the regular season at Ohio Wesleyan, improved to 10-3 overall and 7-0 in the league, in the process clinching at least a share of a second straight NCAC title and a fourth consecutive No. 1 seeding in the NCAC Tournament.

Before the 2014 season, the NCAC champion was crowned following the league tournament. The Tigers have lost in the NCAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed each of the last three seasons.

Wittenberg trailed 3-1 in the early going before a four-goal spurt staked the Tigers to a lead they would never relinquish. It took quite a while for Wittenberg to pull away, however, as the Tigers led just 9-7 at halftime.

Wittenberg finally pulled away over the final 15 minutes, scoring five of the last six goals of the game. Senior Logan Warye (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) scored two of the goals in the late going to finish with eight in the game, which is tied for the fourth-highest total in program history.

The scoring binge pushed Warye's season total to 58 and into No. 2 on the program list, behind only her 67 scored a year ago. Warye already broke the school record for career goals.

Senior Beth Hubbard (West Hartford, Conn./Notre Dame de Sion (Mo.)) lent plenty of support, finishing with three goals and one assist, while senior Megan Loofbourrow (Prospect, Ky./Ballard) and sophomore Becca Joseph (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula) added matching totals of two goals and one assist apiece.

Warye also topped the Tigers in ground balls with seven, while junior Carrie Kubasta (Medina, Ohio/Medina) added four. Kubasta led all players with eight draw controls and Warye chipped in with five.

For the game, Wooster held a narrow 31-29 advantage in shots, but junior goalkeeper Katie Reuter (Cleveland, Ohio/Hathaway Brown) was up to the task, finishing with nine saves.

Written By: Ryan Maurer