Tigers Fall in Hard Fought Battle Against the Panthers

Birmingham, AL -- For game two of spring break, the women's lacrosse team traveled to Birmingham, Alabama to take on the Birmingham-Southern Panthers Friday evening. In a close, intense battle, junior Katie Wadds made the game tying goal with five minutes left to send it into overtime. Unfortuantely, a free possession for the Panthers gave them the victory goal, deafeating the Tigers 9-8. 

Wittenberg came out hot going up 3-0 in the first 10 minutes of the first quarter. Sophomore Grace Kennedy scored in the first three minutes of the match, giving the Tigers a big boost as freshman Grace Hehman sends it in for goal number two. Less than three minutes later, sophomore Jessica Flick ups the score to 3-0, then holding the leading going into the second quarter. The Red and White were held to one goal in the second half coming from junior Hannah Feder while the defense held the Panthers to one. Senior goaltender Joanna Stecz collected six saves to their three goals in the first half while facing a total of nine. 

Heading into the third quarter, junior Mya Wolfe wasted no time, scoring in just the first seven seconds. The Tiger defense was unable to hold the Panthers, as they went on a 3-0 run taking the lead 5-6. Hehman came back to tie it with four minutes left in the third quarter. The Panthers scored once again, leading going to the fourth quarter. At the start, junior Cecilia Critchfield hit the net tying the Panthers before they knocked one in taking the lead once again, but Wadds was able to tie it to take it into overtime, where the Tigers were unable to capitalize.

Overall, there were seven different Tigers who hit the back of the net with eight people taking shots, 22 hits on goal. Kennedy and senior Antavia Horne moved the ball through the middle, while Kennedy and Wadds picked up seven ground balls each and sophomore Zoe Chirumbolo McKee grabbed five. 

Up next - The Tigers will be heading home to take on Heidelberg Wednesday, March 16, at 7 p.m.