This past Saturday, the Wittenberg Men’s Lacrosse team celebrated Senior Day by proving to the College of Wooster exactly why there are four quarters in a game; the Tigers came from behind to top the Fighting Scots 12-11.
The rainy day began at Edwards-Maurer Field with the Tigers honoring the seniors who have dedicated so much of their time to help grow the program into what it is today. Connor McDunn, midfielder, and Ian Jump, team manager, were met with praise from the 100 fans in attendance.
The game started slow as both teams went to battle, watching their opponent and waiting for a mistake to capitalize on. The fighting Scots scored the first point of the game, but Noah Moderwell, ‘20, took matters into his own hands and retaliated by scoring an unassisted goal. Wooster’s fast-paced offense relentlessly fired shots and took an early lead of 5-1 in the second quarter.
The closer the clock ticked towards halftime, the more focused and determined the Tigers played. Making smart passes, avoiding turnovers and applying the pressure on the Scots’ offense is how Wittenberg was able to respond by scoring four unanswered goals. The momentum shifted when Moderwell scored another unassisted goal. Cam Kennedy, ‘21, and Lucas Klever, ‘21, scored the final two goals of the second quarter, which tied the game at 5-5.
The third quarter started and the Tigers picked up right where they left off, taking their first lead of the day when Jack Strahm, ‘19, scored. Losing the lead left Wooster with a sense of urgency, because 10 seconds later, the game was tied up and Wooster was determined to run the score up after three unanswered goals. However, Moderwell and Michael Coyle, ‘21, didn’t let that last for long because the pair worked together to put three points on the scoreboard.
Trailing 11-9 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Tigers remained calm as they tried to control the pace of the game. The game appeared to belong to Wooster, but Wittenberg found the spark they needed when Matt Welch, ‘20, picked up a loose groundball in the crease, netting the Tiger’s 10th goal of the day. Next, Coyle drove to the net on an uncontested possession with 6:06 remaining, tying the game at 11-11. Moderwell then put the finishing touches on the Senior Day win, as he found just enough room to get a shot off from a tough angle, beating Wooster’s goalie high for Saturday’s game-winner.
The comeback win happened because Wittenberg refused to give up and played every second like it was their last. The victory was earned by the team, but there were a few Tigers whose performance stood out.
Moderwell lead the team with five goals and Grant Snodgrass, ‘21, was dominant at the center dot, winning 20 of 27 face-offs. Colin Cahill, ‘19 and team captain, came in off the bench for the Tigers and stepped up big in net, recording eight saves in 24 minutes of work while earning the win.
“I’m extremely proud of the guys for staying positive and fighting all the way through even with our backs against the wall to eventually come back from behind to win,” Cahill said. “It was a total team effort from the team mates who kept the bench focused and amped all the way to the players who contributed more on the field. It was a much-needed win for us and I’m proud of the team.”
