All Releases Written by: Ryan Maurer
Director of Sports Information
E-Mail: rmaurer@wittenberg.edu

Wittenberg Spring Sports Athletes Claim 33 North Coast Athletic Conference Postseason Awards
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A solid spring sports season has reaped individual rewards for 33 Wittenberg University athletes who were selected to All-North Coast Athletic Conference teams over the last two weeks. Read More ...

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Eight Tigers Earn 2005 All-NCAC Honors
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio Wesleyan senior John Schlegel has been named Player of the Year for the second straight season to highlight the 2005 All-North Coast Athletic Conference men's lacrosse selections. Read More...

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Cory Windle

The 2005 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team wrapped up the season with a heartbreaking 8-7 home loss to Wooster on Saturday. The defeat capped the Tigers' campaign at 2-11 overall and 1-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. After falling behind 4-1 by halftime, the Tigers scored three straight goals to open the second half and tie the score. Wooster jumped back in front with the final two goals of the third quarter before Wittenberg scored three unanswered to open the final stanza. That put the Tigers firmly in the driver's seat, and they even had possession of the ball several times in hopes of going up by two goals.

However, Wooster tied it on a goal with 4:24 remaining and then won it on a goal just 25 seconds later. Wittenberg had several golden opportunities in the final 1:40, but the Wooster defense packed it in, forcing three errant shots and then a turnover with just 13 seconds left.

For the game, Wittenberg was paced offensively by junior Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) with two goals and two assists. Sophomore Sammy Hong (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) added two scores, and single tallies were posted by senior Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington), sophomore Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington), sophomore Jay Shimko (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) and junior Michael Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./C.B.C.). The Tigers' only other assist was credited to Carlson. The Tigers won the shooting battle in the game, totalling 32 to Wooster's 26.

It was the final home appearance for Wittenberg seniors - Carlson and defender Bill Fortune (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South).

Next: Season Complete

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Matt Davis

The 2005 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team split a pair of games in the last week to head into Saturday's season finale with a 2-10 overall record, including a mark of 1-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Last Saturday, the Tigers braved terrible weather conditions at Oberlin to capture a 15-5 victory in a game that counted toward the NCAC standings. It was Wittenberg's second win over the Yeomen in 2005.

In that game, the offensive star was sophomore Matt Davis (Medina, Ohio/Medina), who scored a career-high five goals just three days after scoring three times against nationally ranked Ohio Wesleyan. Sophomore Adam Morrison (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) added two goals and four assists to lead all scorers in total points.

Sophomore Sammy Hong (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) chipped in two goals and one assist, and junior Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), freshman Mike Coursault (St. Louis, Mo./C.B.C.), sophomore Jay Shimko (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids), senior Trevor Carlson (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), sophomore Cory Griffiths (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) and junior Bryan Arnold (Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) rounded out the goal-scorers. Sophomore Brandon Schwind (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) was credited with an assist to cap the Wittenberg scoring output.

Defensively, freshman Andy Shively (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) was solid in his second start in goal, turning away six Oberlin shots. Wittenberg outshot the Yeomen decisively, holding a 35-16 advantage by game's end.

Then on Wednesday, the Tigers lost at Denison, 15-3. The Tigers trailed 5-0 after one period and 7-0 at halftime, putting them in a hole they had no chance to get out of.

Shively made his third straight start in goal, and he recorded 13 saves. Offensively, the chances were relatively few and far between for the Tigers. Coursault finished with two goals and one assist and sophomore Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington) added the third goal.

The 2005 season comes to a close on Saturday with a home game against the Wooster Fighting Scots. In a game that counted toward the NCAC standings earlier this month, Wooster captured a 9-3 win over the visiting Tigers. The season finale will not count as an NCAC game.

Next: 4/30 vs. Wooster, 1 p.m.

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Adam Morrison

The 2005 Wittenberg University mens lacrosse team continues to struggle, but there are still some big games left on the schedule in which to stop the slide and build momentum for next season.

The Tigers are 1-8 overall and 0-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference after recent losses to Kenyon on April 6 (13-11), Wooster on April 9 (9-3) and Washington and Jefferson on April 16 (18-13). In each contest, the Tigers had their opportunities but couldnt capitalize.

Perhaps the best and most consistent play on the team has been provided by junior Kevin Adams (Medina, Ohio/Medina), who has made six starts and seven total appearances in goal. He has a save percentage of .510 thanks to 74 saves and 71 goals allowed.

As a team, the most remarkable statistic is total shots. Wittenberg and its opponents have each attempted 231 on the season, with two of the last three foes actually attempting less shots than the Tigers.

Offensively, the teams leading point scorer is sophomore Adam Morrison (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) with 15 on eight goals and seven assists. Sophomores Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington) and Sammy Hong (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) lead the Tigers with nine goals each.

Next up for the Tigers is a home game tonight against nationally ranked NCAC leader Ohio Wesleyan. the season wraps up with conference games against Oberlin on Saturday and at Denison on April 27 and then a home non-conference game against Wooster on April 30.

Next: 4/20 vs. Ohio Wesleyan, 7:30 p.m.

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Travis Moore

The 2005 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team hasn't had the success it had hoped for yet in 2005, but the season is still relatively young and the North Coast Athletic Conference schedule is still ahead of the Tigers, beginning with tomorrow's game against Kenyon.

In the last two weeks, the Tigers have lost 16-8 to Greensboro on March 19, defeated Oberlin 13-9 on March 23 and then lost to Whittier 13-5 on April 2. All three games were played in extremely difficult, cold weather conditions at Wittenberg's Edwards-Maurer Field.

In the win over Oberlin, sophomore Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington) was the Tigers' offensive star with four goals, a performance that netted him NCAC Player of the Week honors on March 28. He also had a four-goal game and NCAC Player of the Week honors a year ago in a game against Oberlin.

For the season, the Tigers are led by Moore's eight goals and three assists. Junior Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) has seven goals and two assists, and sophomores Sammy Hong (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) and Adam Morrison (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) share the team lead with 11 total points. Hong has seven goals and four assists and Morrison has five goals and six assists.

Next: 4/6 vs. Kenyon, 7:30 p.m.

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Trevor Carlson

The 2005 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team is off to a hard-luck 0-3 start, but there is plenty of season left to turn things around. The Tigers will try to get the season moving in a positive direction Saturday with a game against Greensboro.

The Tigers' annual Spring Break trip did not get off to a good start as Wittenberg dropped a 20-5 decision to St. Mary's on March 9. The game was played after an unexpected eight-day layoff, precipitated by a cancelled game at St. Vincent due to snow in western Pennsylvania on March 5.

Senior attacker Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) found the back of the net on a pass from sophomore attacker Adam Morrison (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) early in the first half to forge the game's lone tie. However, St. Mary's blitzed Wittenberg with a 7-0 run and pushed the lead out to a commanding 11-2 advantage by halftime. Wittenberg's only other goal of the first half came from junior Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) without an assist.

Windle added a goal in the second half and sophomore attacker Sammy Hong (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) chipped in with a goal and an assist, both in the final 30 minutes. Sophomore Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington) tacked on the Tigers' other goal and Morrison finished with two assists to lead Wittenberg.

The Tigers again couldn't find that winning formula against Randolph-Macon on March 12 in a physical 12-10 road loss that wrapped up the Spring Break trip.

Wittenberg got three goals from Morrison and two tallies from Moore, while Hong, Windle, Carlson, sophomore Brandon Schwind (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and freshman Brandon Hulett (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) all scored once. Windle, the team's leading scorer and lone first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference honoree a year ago, added three assists to lead the Tigers in that department.

Junior Kevin Adams (Medina, Ohio/Medina) was the Tigers' starter in goal and he turned away 13 shots, while facing 35 from Randolph-Macon. Wittenberg attempted 30 shots, with RMC's netminder coming up with 15 saves.

Next: 3/19 vs. Greensboro, Noon

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Wittenberg Picked To Finish Fourth In NCAC Preseason Poll
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Defending North Coast Athletic Conference tri-champion Ohio Wesleyan emerged as the preseason favorite in balloting by NCAC men's lacrosse coaches in their annual preseason poll. Read More...

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Jay Shimko

The 2005 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team didn't enjoy the season opener it had hoped for on Tuesday, but perhaps it's something to build on. On a cold, snowy evening, the Tigers dropped an 11-7 decision to NCAA Division I Bellarmine at Cincinnati Mariemont High School.

The teams were tied at two after the first period, but Bellarmine outscored the Wittenberg 4-2 and 3-1 in the second and third quarters to establish a four-goal lead it would never relinquish.

Wittenberg's offense was spread around, as six different players, none with more than one season of collegiate experience, accounted for the seven goals. Sophomore Jay Shimko (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) led with the first two Tiger goals, followed by sophomore Sammy Hong (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), junior Bryan Arnold (Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Scioto), freshman James Mather (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township), freshman Patrick Adrian (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) and freshman Mike Coursault (St. Louis, Mo./C.B.C.).

In goal, junior Kevin Adams (Medina, Ohio/Medina) made his first start and was credited with 14 saves. He faced a total of 25 shots from Bellarmine, compared to 24 shots by Wittenberg. Also of note was the play of junior Mike Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./C.B.C.), who won 12-of-21 faceoffs.

Next up for Wittenberg is a trip to Pennsylvania on Saturday for a game against NAIA scholarship program St. Vincent, a 12-7 winner over the Tigers a year ago in Springfield.

Next: 3/5 @ St. Vincent, 2 p.m.

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Kevin Adams

The 2005 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team is preparing for what Head Coach Vinnie Lang hopes is nothing short of a breakthrough season. He has plenty of reason for optimism as the Tigers take to the field for the first time in a game that will count on Tuesday, March 1 against Bellarmine University. The game will be played at Mariemont High School in Cincinnati.

At attack the Tigers have an abundance of talent and experience, starting with 2004 North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year Sammy Hong (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne), who finished his first collegiate season with 28 goals and 39 total points. He is joined on the attack by NCAC honorable mention selection and fellow sophomore Adam Morrison (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), who ranked third on the team with 43 total points and first in assists with 21 in his first season in the Red & White. In addition, senior Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) brings senior leadership to the attack unit after struggling with injuries in 2004. Another large class of talented incoming freshmen will join sophomores Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington), who had seven goals in 2004, and Matt Davis (Medina, Ohio/Medina), a midfielder in 2004, to add depth and versatility to the attack line.

In the midfield, the Tigers must continue to receive strong play from the emerging duo of junior Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) and sophomore Jay Shimko (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids). Windle was Wittenberg's lone first team all-conference selection in 2004 after leading the Tigers with 30 goals and 48 total points, and Shimko was outstanding in his inaugural collegiate campaign with 11 goals and 15 total points. Junior Mike Morrell (Baldwin, Mo./CBC) is expected to fill out the midfield for the Tigers, while sophomore Cory Griffiths (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) is also back in the fold after scoring 15 goals in 2004. Numerous talented freshmen, as well as returning sophomores Andy Murschel (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) and Greg Mustric (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne), will also vie for playing time.

Three players are listed as long stick midfielders on the roster: sophomores Kevin Owens (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) and Jansen Wehrley (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and junior Jonathan Smiley (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne). Smiley is a two-time All-NCAC honoree and a mainstay in the defensive end for the Tigers after leading Wittenberg with 61 ground balls in 2004.

The Tigers must improve their defense to finally get over the hump in the always-tough NCAC, and the unit starts in 2005 with senior Bill Fortune (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South), a two-year starter and honorable mention All-NCAC selection in 2004. Two other returning letterwinners, sophomores Brandon Schwind (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Mark Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./C.B.C.) also return after solid freshman campaigns.

In goal, the Tigers will be pressed to find a replacement for departed senior Kyle Prussing, a three-year starter. Junior Kevin Adams (Medina, Ohio/Medina)< will be the likely replacement for Prussing, but he will be pushed by sophomore Pat Garlock (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles) and freshman Andy Shively (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington).

Next: 3/1 vs. Bellarmine
@ Cincinnati Mariemont H.S.