As the Wittenberg women’s field hockey team starts out the 2013 season, they do so with two wins and two losses in conference play. After a 6-12 2012 season for the Tigers, the team had a record of 1-3 before entering conference play at home against Wooster on Sept. 14th. Up until that point, Wittenberg had lost to Centre, Lynchburg, and Washington and Jefferson while coming up with a victory against Bethany College.
The game against Wooster went well for the Tigers as they beat the Scots by a score of 4-2. The win was important to Wittenberg as it was the first win for the team in the rivalry in the past five times the two teams have met. Junior Beth Warning led the team with two goals and an assist along with junior Megan Loofbourrow and freshman Eva van Dijkman, who both picked up a goal respectably. In goal, freshmen Sarah Brownell made four saves in her first ever collegiate field hockey win.
The very next day the Tigers welcomed Oberlin College to Edwards-Maurer Field in their second NCAC game of the year. Once again the home team was able to carry the day as Wittenberg won by a score of 3-1. The three goals were scored by Megan Loofbourrow and sophomores Paige Vanerstrom and Andrea Mattingly. Van Dijkman and junior Kim Loofbourrow helped out the team by recording an assist each as freshmen Laura Jansing put up a show in goal by making eight saves, all of which happened in the first half of play.
Wittenberg’s luck against NCAC opponents ended that Wednesday as the Tigers played their third straight home game in a row against Denison. Although the Tigers lost by a score of 4-0 Brownell put up a great effort in goal posting 12 total saves against an aggressive Denison team. Warning attempted two shots on goal while Vanerstrom and Megan and Kim Loofbourrow shot once on goal each. Unfortunately, none of these shots met the back of the net and the Tigers had to settle with an early 2-1 conference record.
The women’s field hockey team then went on to lose their second conference game to the Ladies of Kenyon on Sept. 21 at home. After scoring in the first three minutes of the game, Kenyon went on to win the game 6-1. The only goal for Wittenberg was scored by Mattingly, but that was already after Kenyon had scored all six of their goals. Junior Casey Fry led the team with four shots on goal and Jansing was able to make six saves in goal but it was not enough for the Tigers to come up with a win.
The Tigers hope to improve on their 2-2 NCAC record this Friday at 4:30 p.m. with a game against Ohio Wesleyan at home and then also at home against DePauw on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.. The rest of the team’s NCAC games will be away this season as they hope to finish the season strong.
