Ohio Wesleyan 11, Wittenberg 7

April 16, 2008

Senior midfielder Steve Fowler (Wilton, Conn.) scored less than a minute into the second quarter to put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay, and the Bishops pulled away in the fourth quarter to claim a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Wittenberg on Wednesday at Selby Field.

The Tigers tallied a pair of man-up goals by Jeff Capella in the first quarter, sandwiched around Ohio Wesleyan scores by senior midfielder Trevor Jones (Flanders, N.J./West Morris Mendham) and sophomore attacker Chris Ehlinger (Radnor, Pa.) as the teams ended the first period deadlocked at 2-2.

Fowler's goal off a pass from senior midfielder Chris Eccles (Secane, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) at the 14:26 mark of the second quarter put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay, and the Bishops followed with another set of goals by Jones and Ehlinger to take a 5-2 lead less than 4 minutes into the period.

Wittenberg answered with a pair of scores by Ted Winders to close within 5-4 before Fowler and Jones connected in the closing minutes of the half to give Ohio Wesleyan a 6-4 lead at the break.

The Tigers closed to within 6-5 early in the third quarter, but every time Wittenberg came within a goal, Ohio Wesleyan had an answer.

First it was senior attacker Harrison Iuliano (Mendham, N.J./Blair Academy) scoring off a pass from sophomore attacker Rob Young (Langhorne, Pa./Council Rock South) to give the Bishops a 2-goal cushion, and after Wittenberg cut the deficit to 7-6 on Mitch Cohagan's goal midway through the third quarter, it was junior attacker Nick Gallagher (Columbus/Dublin Scioto) ringing up a man-up goal to give the Bishops an 8-6 lead.

Winders brought the Tigers within 8-7 late in the third quarter, but that would be as close as the scrappy Tigers would come, as the Bishop defense clamped down to hold Wittenberg scoreless during the fourth quarter while a goal by Young and a pair of Gallagher scores provided the 11-7 final.

Gallagher led the Bishops with 3 goals, while Jones finished with 2 goals and 2 assists and Fowler had 2 goals and an assist.

Senior Ryan Perone (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Prep) went the distance in the Bishop goal, making 8 saves.

Winders led the Tigers with 3 goals, while Capella added 2 goals and an assist and Cohagan had a goal and 3 assists. Mark DeOliveira finished with 7 saves in the Tiger cage.

Box Score