March 29, 2024

On Saturday Oct. 7, Wittenberg’s Field Hockey team took on the Earlham College Quakers. Wittenberg had seven wins and three losses at the start of the game, and walked away with a 3-2 win over the Quakers. The Tigers are currently on a three-game win streak and are averaging 15.6 shots per game.

The National Anthem started off game day at Edwards-Maurer Field, but with an interesting twist. As both teams headed out to place their hands over their hearts and face the flag, half of Earlham’s team knelt rather than standing.

The game started off with a shot and goal by Channa Visseren, ’21. Followed up with shots from Blaine Donnelly, ’19, Maddie Goelz, ’18 and another from Visseren that were all thwarted.Donnelly came back and scored 11 minutes into the half with an assist by Audrey Coler, ’18.

“We have focused heavily on our possession skills — individually and through team passing — this season,” Kelly Hubbell, head coach, said. “I think there were great connecting passes and high-caliber stick skills throughout the field today that helped us succeed.”

With that being the last score of the half, there were penalty shots, including shots by Donnelly and Megan Niswonger, ‘21.

Earlham took a total of four shots in the half, with only two of them being shots on goal. Goalie, Allie Purvis, ’19, was kept busy in-between the goal posts. Wittenberg had a total of 12 shots, with nine being shots on goal, in the first half alone.

The second half started off a little slow but quickly livened up, with a green card for Coler only seven minutes into the half. That was followed by shots and penalty corners left and right from the Quakers. The Tigers then came out of nowhere with a goal from Niswonger and an assist from Goelz, putting them ahead by three.

The Quakers weren’t going to be left in the dust, so 10 minutes later, they took a shot that snuck by and made it to the back of the net. Two minutes later, another Earlham goal put Earlham only one goal behind the Tigers.

The final play of the game was the green card given to Alex Reed, ’21, with only two minutes left in the game. The buzzer sounded and the game was over, landing the Tigers their eighth win of the season.

Visseren is currently on a three-game point streak accompanying her five-goal streak. Donnelly is also on a point and goal streak, holding a five-game point streak with an eight-goal streak. The Tigers had a total of 10 penalty corner opportunities throughout the game with 17 shots at the goal.

“Also, I think it’s really important to recognize Allie Purvis’ play,” Hubbell said. “Her decision making as a goalkeeper is among the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching. She consistently makes key and very smart plays for us. She has been a big piece of our team’s success this season, and I look forward to her continued impact.”

The Tigers will be back home Thursday, Oct. 26, to take on the DePauw Tigers.

 

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