Wittenberg Holds Off Earlham, 1-0
It doesn't matter that Wittenberg took 21 more shots than its opponent, nor does it matter that the ball was almost exclusively in the Earlham end of the field. What matters is the 1-0 score on the board at the end of the game, which gave the Tigers a hard-fought victory over the visiting Quakers and improved Wittenberg to 8-1-4 overall and 3-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference on the season.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - It doesn't matter that Wittenberg took 21 more shots than its opponent, nor does it matter that the ball was almost exclusively in the Earlham end of the field. What matters is the 1-0 score on the board at the end of the game, which gave the Tigers a hard-fought victory over the visiting Quakers and improved Wittenberg to 8-1-4 overall and 3-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference on the season.
Wittenberg, which was playing without starting goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke due to injury, was the dominant team throughout, but the Tigers were not at their sharpest much of the game. A first-half goal by freshman Sydney Bates, her first as a collegian, was the only score of the game despite 24 Wittenberg shots that forced Earlham's goalkeeper into 10 saves, several of the diving variety.
The assist on the goal was credited to freshman Lisa Rusch, who led the Tigers with six shots, including a pair in the second half that were deflected away by Earlham's keeper at the last second. Senior Eileen Quinn, making her first start in goal in two years, was a difference-maker, turning away three Earlham shots to garner the win. It was her second appearance of the season after coming in midway through the second half of the 1-0 double overtime loss against nationally ranked Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday.
The Tigers assured themselves of just their second winning season since 1995 with the win. They are back in action on Friday against non-conference rival Urbana at Bill Edwards Field.