Tigers Drop NCAC Opener At Wooster, 13-9

WOOSTER, OH - Wittenberg Men's Lacrosse got off to a slow start against the College of Wooster in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) opener for both teams, and it cost the Tigers dearly in what turned out to be a 13-9 loss.

The host Scots jumped out to a 7-1 lead midway through the second quarter and held an 8-3 advantage at halftime. Wooster scored five of the first seven goals of the second half as well to push the lead to eight before the Tigers mounted a furious comeback that was too little, too late.

The loss stopped Wittenberg's winning streak at three and dropped the Tigers to 3-3 on the season. Wooster evened its record at 4-4.

Individually, Wittenberg's offense was led by Travis Demsher (Santa Clarita, CA / West Ranch) with three goals and two assists, followed by Nicholas Langenderfer (Montgomery, OH / St. Xavier) with two goals, Ethan Pac (Greenwood, IN / Cathedral) with one goal and two assists, and Dillon McKeigue (Olmsted Township, OH / St. Edward) with one goal and one assist.

At the other end of the field, Chase Singleton (Springboro, OH / Springboro) did fine work between the pipes, registering 15 saves on 28 Wooster shots. Pac was tops on the Tigers in ground balls with five, followed by Max Benincasa (Shaker Heights, OH / Shaker Heights) and Justin Katona (Liberty Twp., OH / Lakota East) with four each, and four players with three: McKeigue, Quentin Rudolph (Grand Rapids, MI / Forest Hills Central), Blake Roller (New Albany, OH / St. Charles), and Tripp Salowich (Plymouth, MI / Canton). Benincasa and Charles Morawski (Glen Ellyn, IL / Glenbard West) led the Tigers in caused turnovers with two apiece.

Charlie Frederick (Chagrin Falls, OH / Chagrin Falls) and Colten Simkins (Liberty Township, OH / Lakota East) both were credited with wins on more than 50% of their faceoffs in the game.

Next up, Wittenberg steps back out of conference on Saturday, March 29, for a road trip to Trine. Start time for that game is 7 p.m.