Wittenberg Ties Ohio Wesleyan But Bishops Advances On Penalty Kicks in NCAC Tournament Semifinals

Ben McAnnis-Entenman

DELAWARE, Ohio - It would be difficult to put together a more balanced stats box than the one Wittenberg and Ohio Wesleyan produced in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) semifinals. When the dust had cleared, however, the Tigers were on the short end of a 5-3 shootout and likely saw their 2007 season end with a 0-0 tie at Ohio Wesleyan.

The Tigers, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, can still hope to reach the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in more than a decade, but it will be up to the selection committee to deem Wittenberg, with its 12-4-3 overall record, worthy of participation. The Battling Bishop, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, advanced to the NCAC championship match with a 14-5-1 overall record.

The two teams each finished with 13 shots, broken up evenly at five in the first period, five in the second period, two in the first overtime and one in the second overtime. It wasn't until the penalty kick shootout that OWU got the upper hand as the Tigers missed on their first attempt and the Bishops drilled all five of their attempts to win 5-3 (Wittenberg did not attempt its fifth shot).

Wittenberg senior goalkeeper Ben McAnnis-Entenman (Portland, Ore./Cleveland) came up with seven saves in the game, compared to six for OWU netminder Jamison Dague. The two teams split 30 fouls almost evenly, and each team even picked up one yellow card apiece.

Offensively, the Tigers' leader in shots was junior forward Shane Price (Minford, Ohio/Minford) with six, including two on goal.

OWU will take on fourth-seeded Allegheny in Saturday's championship match. The Gators took out No. 1 seed Kenyon, 5-4 in penalty kicks, earlier in the day.