Tigers Even NCAC Record With 4-1 Win Over Hiram

Kate Burns and Erika Rich score as Wittenberg honors seniors with big victory.

Seniors Mary Clare Yerke, Tobie Weston, Erika Rich and Chelsey Marcum celebrate Senior Recognition Day with their parents and coaches on the field before a 4-1 win over Hiram. Photo by Erin Pence
Seniors Mary Clare Yerke, Tobie Weston, Erika Rich and Chelsey Marcum celebrate Senior Recognition Day with their parents and coaches on the field before a 4-1 win over Hiram. Photo by Erin Pence
October 18, 2014
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers sent out another outstanding senior class in the best way possible, celebrating Senior Recognition Day at Edwards-Maurer Field with a dominating 4-1 win over Hiram.

The win pushed the Tigers back above .500 overall at 6-5-1 and, more importantly, it evened Wittenberg's North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) record at 2-2-0 with four games to play. The Tigers have home games remaining against Kenyon and DePauw and road tests left on the schedule at Wooster and Allegheny.

Hiram fell to 5-9-1 overall and 0-4-1 in the NCAC.

The Tigers jumped on top with a pair of first-half goals, starting with a strike from senior Erika Rich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) in the 22nd minute off a feed from senior Chelsey Marcum (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville). It was Rich's fourth goal in the last five games.

That goal was followed a little less than 10 minutes later by a tally off the foot of junior Kate Burns (Granger, Ind./Penn). Burns added an insurance goal 8:46 into the second half before Hiram countered with a goal in the 62nd minute. Rich scored her second goal of the game to restore Wittenberg's three-goal cushion at the 74:05 mark.

Wittenberg outshot Hiram by a 26-14 margin in the game, and the Tigers had nine corner kick opportunities, compared to four for the Terriers. Senior Tobie Weston (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Christian) and Burns led with five shots each, while Marcum and freshman Lauren Hofer (Avon, Ind./Cardinal Ritter) added three attempts apiece.

In goal, freshman Alexa Murrietta (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge) was credited with eight saves.

Written By: Ryan Maurer