For Immediate Release April 15, 2009

Contact: Ryan Maurer E-Mail: rmaurer@wittenberg.edu

Steve Koppenhafer

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers took another important step forward with a convincing 12-2 non-conference win over visiting Trine University.

The win assured the Tigers of their first winning record in a decade, dating back to an 8-6 mark posted in 1999. The following year, Wittenberg finished 7-7 overall in Head Coach Bruce Reid's final season in Springfield, and it has taken nine years to reach the seven-win plateau again. The Tigers head into a tough three-game homestretch with plenty of momentum to go along with their 7-3 overall record.

Junior Ted Winders (Western Spring, Ill./Lyons Township) sparked the Tigers early with two goals in the first period as Wittenberg raced out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. The Tiger defense was outstanding all night as senior Steve Koppenhafer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) and junior Danny Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) scooped up a game-high eight ground balls each and sophomore goalkeeper Mark DeOliveira (East Hanover, NJ/East Hanover) posted 14 saves while allowing just two second-period Trine scores. The Thunder were held scoreless in three of the four quarters.

The Tigers spread the offensive wealth around, with sophomore Mitch Cohagan (Pickerington, Ohio/North) leading the charge by game's end with four goals.

Wittenberg wraps up regular season non-conference action Sunday with a home game against Colorado College. After that noon start, the Tigers have NCAC match-ups at Wooster and at home against Ohio Wesleyan to close the campaign on back-to-back weekends.

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2009 Men's Lacrosse Schedule/Results