ALL-NCAC SELECTIONS:
Wittenberg had six players selected to the All-North Coast Athletic
Conference second and honorable-mention teams. Second team picks were
senior attackman Jeff Collins (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island), junior
midfielder Mark Burrell (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft), and sophomore
defenseman John Bodin (Loveland, O./Moeller). Honorable mention picks were
junior goalie Michael Oliver (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville), sophomore
attackman Billy Habermeyer (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft), and sophomore
defenseman Dan Hillerich (Morrow, O./Moeller).
FIRST NCAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Wittenberg lacrosse received its first recognition for player of the week.
Freshman attackman Mario Cassani (Chesterfield, Mo./DeSmet) was recognized
for his great work in the first Oberlin and Wooster games. Cassani had
three goals and three assists vs. Oberlin. He added five goals in the
Wooster game.
TEAM AWARDS:
Senior attackman Jeff Collins (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) was voted
Most Valuable Player by his teammates. Freshman goalie Charlie Hamilton
(Wilbraham,Mass./Wilbraham & Monson) received the Most Improved award.
Other award winners were Mario Cassani (Chesterfield, Mo./DeSmet) Rookie
of the Year; senior attackman Jeff Collins (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand
Island) received Most Valuable Offensive Player; and sophomore defenseman
John Bodin (Loveland, O./ Moeller) received Most Valuable Defensive Player
of the year. Individual statistical leaders were:
-Senior attackman Jeff Collins had a total of 54 points. Collins broke the
school's goal record with 42 and added 12 assists.
-Sophomore attackman Billy Habermeyer (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) followed with a total of 49 points. Habermeyer led the team in assists with 23 and had 26 goals.
-Junior midfielder Eric Clapp (Maineville, O./Moeller) led the team in groundballs with 50.
NCAA STATISTICS:
The 1998 Tiger defense finished with several national rankings. In the
area of team statistics, Wittenberg's defense finished 17th in the country
in scoring defense, allowing 137 goals in 16 games for a goals-against
average of 8.56. In the area of individual statistics, junior goalie
Michael Oliver (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) finished 15th in the
country in saves percentage. Oliver had 238 saves in 16 games with a .638
save average, and he also finished 18th in the country in goals-against
average by allowing just 8.71 goals-against per game.
RECORD BREAKERS:
Senior attackman Jeff Collins (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) broke the
school record for most goals in a season with 42. Junior goalie Michael
Oliver (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) broke the school record for most
saves in a season with 238.
FOR THE DEFENSE:
Wittenberg's man-to-man defense played well this season, holding its
opponents to 10 goals or fewer 13 times out of 16 games, and allowing 137
goals. As mentioned above, the defense finished 17th in the country with a
goals-against average of 8.56 per game.
FOR THE OFFENSE:
Wittenberg's motion offense continued to put points on the board. The
offense broke all school scoring marks set last season. The Tigers scored
169 goals and had 93 assists for a total of 262 points. The area that saw
the greatest improvement was in fast-breaks, which accounted for more
than half Wittenberg's points this season.
TIGERS IN THE NCAC:
Wittenberg took another step forward this year by beating both Wooster and
Oberlin to finish fourth in the conference this season. The two wins
against Wooster were the first in the history of the program.
THE TIGER TRADITION:
This season was a big step forward for the program with the first winning
season in 15 years. Wittenberg also won its first tournament taking first
place in the St. Vincent's Tournament. With continued success, the program
looks to build on this year's winning tradition.
CHALLENGING ACADEMICS:
Wittenberg's lacrosse program has enjoyed this year's success while
maintaining an outstanding academic reputation. The school, considered one
of the top 80 private liberal arts colleges in the nation, has a Phi Beta
Kappa chapter and is mentioned in glowing terms in nearly every college
reference manual.
LACROSSE FACILITIES:
Wittenberg's five-year-old artificial surface playing field remains one of
the finest of its kind in college lacrosse, giving consistent playing
conditions in all weather. With fully-functional lighting, much
flexibility in scheduling night games as well as evening practices to
avoid class conflicts are possible. With the new grandstand seating,
landscaping, and ornamental fencing, Edwards-Maurer Field is one of the
finest lacrosse venues among small, private liberal arts colleges.
WEIGHT TRAINING FACILITIES:
Wittenberg's weight room is second to none among colleges of its kind in
the nation. The $350,000 facility, opened in February of 1993, includes
five benches, five squat racks, five inclines, 25 Olympic bars, dumb bells
from 5 to 120 pounds, 8,000 pounds of free weights and seven pieces of
Nautilus equipment. Aerobic equipment includes two Windracer bikes, three
stairmasters, two treadmills, five lifecycles, and three rowers.
ON THE WEB:
Access to up-to-date information on Wittenberg and its athletic program
may be obtained through the Internet on the university's web site. The
address is http://www.wittenberg.edu. Final scores are posted with
highlights, and statistics are available. In addition, you can keep up on
other activities and events at Wittenberg.