Cory Essig	Alex Nichols

A frustrating season came to end for the Tiger men's lacrosse team on Saturday as Wittenberg fell to Ohio Wesleyan 23-14, three days after losing to Kenyon 11-9. The losses pushed Wittenberg back to 5-10 overall on the 2002 season.

Both losses last week were nonconference games, as all NCAC teams that sponsor men's lacrosse play each other twice per season, but only once in games that count toward the conference standings. The Tigers finished fourth in the NCAC behind Denison, Ohio Wesleyan and Kenyon.

Against Kenyon, freshman Cory Essig (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) had three goals, senior Alex Nichols (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) distributed three assists and junior Dan Patterson (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) finished with two goals and two assists to lead the offense. But the Lords outscored the Tigers 4-1 in the second quarter and sustained at least a two-goal margin the rest of the way.

Against nationally ranked OWU, Wittenberg jumped out to a 4-0 first quarter lead and hung tough through the end of the third quarter, when the Bishops moved out to a three-goal lead. But in the final 15 minutes, OWU outscored Wittenberg 8-2 to account for the final margin. In the loss, sophomore Hans Rydquist (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) rammed home four goals and seniors Nate Reed (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) and Nichols each recorded three goals and three assists.

The men's lacrosse All-NCAC team will be announced later this week, and a press release will follow shortly thereafter.

It was a week for varying emotions for the Tiger men's lacrosse team. But by the end, the feeling was very positive as Wittenberg avenged perhaps its most disappointing loss of the season.

Nate Reed	Trip Way

The week began with a challenging road trip to nationally ranked Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday. After a solid first quarter, the Battling Bishops exploded for three goals in 90 seconds late in the quarter and then pounded the Tiger goal for 10 second-period tallies to break the game wide open. The final was 23-7. For Wittenberg, the lone offensive highlights were provided by senior Nate Reed (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller), who scored two second-half goals.

On Saturday, the Tigers showed their mettle, rallying from the lopsided defeat at OWU to defeat visiting Wooster 14-3. Just two weeks earlier, the Scots had scored two goals in the final 11 seconds of a nonconference game between the two teams to pull out an improbable 11-10 victory. The last goal was deflected into the Wittenberg net off a player's facemask.

The second meeting was much different as Wittenberg came out pumped up and put the Scots away early, jumping out to a 7-1 halftime advantage and moving out to an 11-1 lead midway through the third quarter. Senior Alex Nichols (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) had five goals and an assist to spearhead an offensive attack that featured goals by eight different players. In goal, junior Tripp Way (Wayne, Pa./Radnor) and sophomore Kyle Prussing (Concord, NH/Concord-Carlisle) combined to turn away 17 Wooster shots.

The season concludes this week with two home games, against Kenyon on Wednesday and Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday. The Tigers' have completed their NCAC slate of games, both of this week's contests will be nonconference events.

If it weren't for bad luck, the Tiger men's lacrosse team may have no luck at all. Wittenberg's losing streak hit five games last week with a defeat at nationally ranked Denison on Tuesday and a pair of frustrating home losses to Colorado College and Wheeling Jesuit over the weekend.

Nate Reed	Kyle Prussing

Against the Big Red, Wittenberg fell behind early and never caught up, getting shut out in the second half. Senior Nate Reed (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) had a goal and an assist, while sophomore goaltender Kyle Prussing (New Concord, NH/Concord-Carlisle) had 18 saves against a Denison offensive barrage.

On Friday night, Wittenberg trailed visiting Colorado College 5-3 at halftime before the roof caved in. The Tigers were outscored 7-1 in a stunning third quarter and eventually succombed in this nonconference affair 13-5. The game, which included three assists by senior Alex Nichols (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney), was eventually called due to lightning in the area after a two-hour delay.

As if things couldn't get any worse, the Tigers were treated to a flashback to two earlier one-goal losses on Saturday against Wheeling Jesuit. The visiting Cardinals scored the winning goal in a 9-8 win with just 40 seconds remaining, spoiling another fine offensive effort by freshman Cory Essig (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and a strong game in net from junior Tripp Way (Wayne, Pa./Radnor).

The Tigers, who have lost five games this season by three goals or less and three by a single goal, will attempt to rebound this week, but the rest of the schedule is very challenging. On Wednesday, Wittenberg travels to Ohio Wesleyan for a game against the nationally ranked Bishops. On Saturday, the Tigers will square off against Wooster in a conference game just two weeks after the Scots won a nonconference tilt between the two teams on a bizarre goal with just one second remaining. Next week, Kenyon comes calling for a nonconference game and then Ohio Wesleyan visits in the season finale.

Alex Nichols	Dan Patterson

It was the toughest of weeks for a relatively young, aspiring Tiger men's lacrosse team. In two games last week, victory was in their clutches both times only to lose the games - to arch-rivals Kenyon and Wooster, no less - by a combined total of just four goals.

The Tigers headed to Kenyon on Wednesday, April 10 riding a four-game win streak in which they had outscored their opposition 72-3. The Lords are one of the league's best teams, in contention with national powers Denison and Ohio Wesleyan for the conference crown and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III tournament next month. The Tigers, as they have all season, hung tough throughout, surrendering an early 2-0 lead and eventually falling 12-9, despite a late comeback attempt. In the game, senior Alex Nichols (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) had three goals, junior Dan Patterson (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) added a goal and two assists, freshman Cory Essig (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) had two goals and an assist and sophomore Hans Rydquist (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) notched a goal and an assist.

Against Wooster on Saturday, the unthinkable happened as the Tigers coughed up a 10-9 lead in the final 11 seconds to lose 11-10. The winning goal bounded into the net with one second left on the clock, deflecting off a Wooster player's helmet.

Fortunately for Wittenberg, that game did not count toward the NCAC standings, unlike the Kenyon game, which left the Tigers at 1-2 in conference play. In the game, Essig found the back of the net three times and added an assist. Nichols contributed a goal and two assists, while junior Tom McHugh (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) had two goals and senior Justin Bitner (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) added a goal and an assist.

Despite the bad bounces, Tiger goaltender Kyle Prussing (New Concord, NH/Concord-Carlisle) leads the NCAC in save percentage at 62.7. Patterson seventh in points per game with 3.67 and fourth in assists per game with 2.11, while Essig is ninth in points at 3.57 and seventh in goals with 2.57.

Four of Wittenberg's five losses this season have been by three goals or less, and two have been by a single goal. The Tigers will have three opportunities to turn things back around this week as they travel to Denison for a make-up game on Tuesday and then enjoy a two-game weekend homestand against Colorado College and Wheeling Jesuit.

Nate Reed

Cory Essig

The Wittenberg men's lacrosse team is now on a four-game win streak heading into a crucial mid-season stretch. Over the last week, the Tigers have beaten Marietta 12-1, dispatched Oberlin in a nonconference game on Saturday by a 17-0 score and defeated first-year program Washington & Jefferson on Monday by a 28-2 margin.

Against Marietta, senior Nate Reed (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) had a big day, netting four goals, while freshman Cory Essig (Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) chipped in with three goals and an assist. Against Oberlin, a team the Tigers had taken the measure of in conference action by a 15-0 margin two weeks earlier, Essig found the back of the net four times and junior Dan Patterson (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) spearheaded the offensive attack with three goals and three assists. Rounding things out, the Tigers had seven different players score at least three goals against Washington & Jefferson in Monday night's romp. Patterson and Essig were joined in the offensive barrage by freshman Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington), sophomore Nick Azar (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University), senior Shannon Miller (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven), senior Alex Nichols (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) and sophomore Hans Rydquist (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson).

The intensity level is sure to rise this week as the Tigers hit the road on Wednesday for an NCAC game at Kenyon and a nonconference tilt opposite Wooster on Saturday. The Tigers are in the middle of the conference pack currently with a 1-1 mark.

Dan Patterson	Kyle Prussing

As with many of the Wittenberg spring teams, the weather has been wreaking havoc on the men's lacrosse schedule of late, causing the postponement of one game last week (on the road against Denison) and the first game this week (at home against Washington & Jefferson). The Tigers will return to action after a lengthy midseason layoff on Wednesday when they travel to Marietta for a 4:30 p.m. start. Last year, Wittenberg defeated the Pioneers 23-1 at Edwards-Maurer Field.

The Tigers have just two players ranking among the best in the conference in the early statistics. Junior Dan Patterson (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) has seven goals and seven assists so far on the season, both team-highs. The latter total, achieved in four games, is good for a 1.75 assists per game average and fifth place in the NCAC in that category. In addition, sophomore goaltender Kyle Prussing (Concord, NH/Concord-Carlisle) leads the NCAC in save percentage with 20 goals against and 40 saves in his four starts.

This week could be one for the Tigers to get well as they make the aforementioned trip to Marietta and then trek to Oberlin for a non-conference game against the Yeomen on Saturday. Wittenberg's one win this year came against Oberlin by a 15-0 count.

Patterson Nichols

Perhaps all the Tiger men's lacrosse team needed was some home cooking. Returning home for the first time since the season opener nearly three weeks earlier, the Tigers pounded Oberlin 15-0 on Saturday to move to 1-3 overall on the 2002 season and even their NCAC mark at 1-1.  Wittenberg was in complete command from the outset. Offensively, theTigers got three goals apiece from junior Dan Patterson (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) and senior Alex Nichols (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney),two goals each from senior Nate Reed (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller),freshman Cory Essig (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and junior Spencer Dunning (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mariemont), and single tallies each from freshman Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington),sophomore Hans Rydquist (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and senior Justin Bitner (Lansing, Mich./Waverly).  Defensively, the Tigers allowed very little as three different goaltenders played, making just one save each.  The blowout win came on the heels of a series of tough losses for theTigers, including a pair on a Spring Break trip to Virginia. After taking preseason NCAC favorite and sixth-ranked Denison to the wire in a season-opening loss on March 2, Wittenberg traveled to Randolph-Macon and lost a late lead and then were beaten 14-6 by Virginia Wesleyan, in part thanks to a seven-goal outburst in the third quarter by the host team.

Next:
3/26 @ Denison, 5 p.m.

The Wittenberg men's lacrosse team opened a 2002 season filled with promise with an extremely encouraging effort against nationally ranked NCAC foe Denison. Playing Sunday afternoon in frigid conditions on Wittenberg's Edwards-Maurer Field - a day later than planned due to the poor condition of Denison's field - the Tigers extended the Big Red to the limit before falling 5-4. Wittenberg trailed 3-1 at halftime but rallied to take a brief 4-3 lead before the No. 6 ranked and preseason favorite Big Red finally broke through, scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes to defeat the Tigers. Senior Alex Nichols (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) had two goals in the game, while junior Dan Patterson (St. Louis, Mo./Desmet Jesuit) and junior Justin Bitner (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) each contributed a pair of assists to the offensive effort. Defensively, the Tigers got tremendous performances from several players, most notably, according to second-year Head Coach Vinnie Lang, junior long stick midfielders Wes Enicks (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) and Ross Mellgren (Sylvania, Ohio/Southview). For the season ahead, the Tigers have a lot of offensive production they must replace after losing leading scorers Mario Cassani and Shawn Egan to graduation last spring. A variety of players, including incumbent starters and double-digit scorers, Nichols, Patterson, junior Zach Kulow (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) and sophomore Hans Rydquist (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson), will be called upon to lead the offense in 2002. Defensively, Enicks and Mellgren will be joined by a thin but solid defensive group that is led by senior Jon Simon (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller), senior Andy Oliver (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) and sophomore Jim Kelley (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson). In the net will be either 2001 starter, junior Tripp Way (Wayne, Pa./Radnor), or sophomore Kyle Prussing (Concord, N.H./Carlisle), who made 20 saves against Denison. The Tigers are back in action with two matches in Virginia over the Spring Break next week. They return home again on Saturday, March 23 for a game against NCAC rival Oberlin. Next: 3/12 @ Randolph-Macon

Patterson Nichols Oliver