Wittenberg Women's Soccer Returns Solid Core in 2025

After another successful season in 2024, Wittenberg Women’s Soccer is looking to build upon last year’s 6-5-5 overall record that included a fourth-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) standings and a runner-up finish in the NCAC Tournament.

The Tigers overcame numerous obstacles to post that winning record in 2024, including a challenging regular season schedule that was highlighted by a win over nationally ranked Calvin and a tie against nationally ranked Case Western. Wittenberg capped the regular season with back-to-back wins to finish 4-2-2 in the NCAC and grab the last spot in the conference tournament. The Tigers opened the postseason with a win at top-seeded Denison before dropping a hard-fought 2-1 battle against DePauw in the title game.

Wittenberg graduated seven seniors and one junior who decided to finish a year early, but the Tigers, led by eighth-year head coach Katie Robinson, head into 2025 with plenty of optimism thanks to the return of seven players who started at least nine games a year ago.

Leading the way is sophomore goalkeeper Lily Winkle (Cynthiana, KY / Harrison County), who started in all 17 games last season and registered 72 saves while allowing just 22 goals. Sophomore Caroline Stupp (Waynesville, OH / Waynesville) headlines the returning field players after picking up second-team All-NCAC honors and also earning a spot on the NCAC All-Tournament Team in her first collegiate season. Stupp and Sarah Deaton (Monroe, OH / Monroe) are the team’s top returning scorers after both tallied four goals a year ago.

Junior Ava Otey (Columbus, OH / Olentangy Orange) and senior Alex Hill (Powell, OH / Olentangy Liberty) also return as attacking options after chipping in with a combined 11 points a year ago. The defense features a host of talented returnees, including senior defenders Courtney Lindgren (Maineville, OH / Kings), senior Elizabeth Wile (Dublin, OH / Hilliard Davidson), and Annabel Blum (Cincinnati, OH / Cincinnati Country Day School).

Robinson was named the 11th head coach in Wittenberg women’s soccer history in 2017, and she has guided the Tigers to an overall record of 48-55-26. Robinson was promoted to the role of Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) for Wittenberg's Department of Athletics in 2020, and in 2023 she added the title of Assistant Director of Athletics for Internal Operations.

Wittenberg opens the 2025 season at Marietta at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, and then plays the following day against Carnegie Mellon at 3:30 p.m., also at Marietta. The Tigers’ home opener will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, against Asbury, and NCAC play begins with Oberlin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. The regular season concludes after 18 matches with a battle against John Carroll at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, on the home turf at Edwards-Maurer Field.

Written By: Cindy Holbrook
Graphic By: Ally White '26