Early Lead Evaporates As Tigers Fall 4-2 At Denison

Wittenberg loses key North Coast Athletic Conference game as host Big Red outshoot Tigers 31-8.

Leah Soutar and the Tigers were unable to keep pace with Denison in a 4-2 loss. File Photo | Erin Pence
Leah Soutar and the Tigers were unable to keep pace with Denison in a 4-2 loss. File Photo | Erin Pence
October 11, 2014
Box Score

GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers got off to a good start before Denison's offensive barrage resulted in a 4-2 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory.

The loss was a key one for Wittenberg, which now faces an uphill battle to gain one of the top seeds in next month's NCAC Tournament. The Tigers are now 5-5-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the league, while Denison improved to 8-4-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the NCAC.

Twenty-three minutes into the game, Wittenberg held a 1-0 lead after senior Erika Rich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) scored off an assist from freshman Lauren Hofer (Avon, Ind./Cardinal Ritter). But the lead was short-lived as Denison answered 2:18 later, and then the Big Red tacked on a go-ahead goal 5:10 before halftime.

Denison put the game out of reach with goals in the 54th minute and 83rd minute before the Tigers finally answered with a header goal off a corner by sophomore Kyrie Bumpus (Dresden, Ohio/Tri-Valley). Senior Tobie Weston (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Christian) picked up the assist after her well-placed corner kick.

Denison held a commanding 31-8 advantage in shots in the game, including an 18-3 difference in the second half. The Big Red also led in corner kick opportunities by a margin of 4-1.

Freshman Alexa Murrietta (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge) made fives saves in goal before giving way to sophomore Maggie Grieser (St. Paris, Ohio/Graham) for the final 33:43. Grieser was credited with four saves.

Written By: Ryan Maurer