Wittenberg University Athletics - Mens Soccer 2001 News Releases

Intercollegiate Athletics

Men

Women

Additional Links

2001 Men's Soccer Press Releases

October 30, 2001 -
A season that seemed to hold so much promise just two weeks ago came to a disappointing conclusion last week as the Tigers were beaten twice at home and missed out on the NCAC Tournament for the second straight year.

The Tigers opened the week with a 4-3 loss to Wooster on Wednesday. The Scots scored the game-winner with just 23 seconds left in regulation, knocking Wittenberg out of contention for the postseason. Sophomore Taggart Suddes (Ostrander, Ohio/Dublin Coffman), junior Matt Lapish (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./South) and freshman Doug Farrell (Liberty Twp., Ohio/Lakota East) all scored goals in the loss.

On Senior Day at Edwards Field, the Tigers couldn't get the engines going again, losing a heart-breaking 1-0 game on a penalty kick to the visiting Allegheny Gators. Senior goalkeeper Danny Carman (Louisville, Ky./Male) had three saves in his final game in the net. Also playing a final game in Red & White were seniors Ezra Sword (Somerset, Ky./Somerset), Steve Cassiere (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) and Chad Atwood (Nashport, Ohio/Tri-Valley).

October 23, 2001 -
One step forward and one step back. Unfortunately, the latter may be the most costly. The week started off well enough for the Tigers, who traveled to Crawfordsville, Ind. and buried host Wabash on Wednesday for a 4-1 NCAC victory. The win, made possible in part by junior Stefan Christman's (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) two goals, was especially significant because it was Head Coach Steve Dawson's 200th career victory. He is one of just 45 coaches in NCAA Division III history to reach the 200-win plateau.

But on Saturday, the Tigers lost the momentum of four straight NCAC wins by losing to Hiram 1-0 on a second-half penalty kick. As a result, Wittenberg now must defeat Wooster and Allegheny at home this week and also hope for some help from other teams to earn one of the four spots in the upcoming NCAC tournament.

October 16, 2001 -
The Tigers have been knocking at the door all season. On Saturday, they may just have banged it in.

Sophomore Taggart Suddes (Ostrander, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) converted a penalty kick with 9:20 left in the first overtime to lift Wittenberg to a 1-0 victory over defending North Coast Athletic Conference champion Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday. The loss snapped Ohio Wesleyan's NCAC-record streak of 23 straight conference wins. The Bishopsą last loss came Oct. 28, 1998 ‹ also a 1-0 overtime loss to Wittenberg.

The foul was called in the midst of a flurry of activity in front of the Bishop goal. Wittenberg junior Brian Armstrong (Delaware, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) drilled a shot that bounced off the crossbar and Suddes, the league's leading scorer, tried to head the rebound, but the attempt was short and the scramble to get possession was ended by a whistle. Suddes then sent his penalty kick low and to the left, past a sliding OWU goalkeeper who got to the ball but couldnąt control it. Senior goalkeeper Danny Carman (Louisville, Ky./Male) finished with six saves for Wittenberg in recorded his fourth shutout of the 2001 season. His goals against average ranks among the best in the conference at 1.05.

The win over OWU, which pushed Wittenberg's record against teams ranked in the Great Lakes Region to 3-2-1, was the Tigers' second crucial NCAC win of the week. On Wednesday, the victim was Earlham in a come-from-behind 4-2 win. Armstrong tallied two goals and an assist in the win, including what turned out to be the game-winner early in the second half. Armstrong had six goals and two assists in back-to-back outings against Oberlin and Earlham.

In addition to what the wins did for the Tigers' hopes for the 2001 season, they also inched Head Coach Steve Dawson closer to his landmark 200th career victory. He will try to become just the 35th active coach with 200 or more victories when the Tigers travel to Wabash on Wednesday.

October 9, 2001 -

Offense has been a problem for the Tigers the last two years. For the second time in three weeks, Wittenberg exploded at that end of the field and hopefully solved the problems.

About three weeks after scorching visiting Muskingum for a 7-1 victory, Wittenberg blitzed visiting conference foe Oberlin 11-0 on Saturday at Bill Edwards Field. For the third time this year, a Wittenberg player turned a hat trick as junior Brian Armstrong (Delaware, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) tallied four goals against the Yeomen. Freshman Cliff Cannon (Columbus, Ohio/The Wellington School) and sophomore Taggart Suddes (Ostrander, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) had hat tricks against Cedarville and Muskingum respectively earlier in the year. Against Oberlin, Cannon tacked two more goals onto his season total, while Suddes added four assists to maintain his points per game average at a league-leading 2.0.

Now comes a crucial week for the Tigers as they strive to find their way back into the NCAC race. Earlham comes calling on Wednesday and then the Tigers hit the road to take on perennial powerhouse and preseason conference favorite Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday.

October 2, 2001 -

For the second year in a row, a strong non-conference showing in the early going has given way to struggles against the elite of the North Coast Athletic Conference. After opening the season with a 6-2 record, the Tigers have gone winless over the last week.

Offense has again been a problem for Wittenberg, as conference foes Denison and Kenyon both shut out the Tigers out. The only goal Wittenberg has scored in the last 10 days was by junior Brian Armstrong (Delaware, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) off an assist by sophomore Taggart Suddes (Ostrander, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) during the first half of a 1-1 tie with nationally ranked Wilmington last Wednesday. Despite the scoring drought, Suddes leads the conference in scoring with 2.0 points per game (nine goals and four assists).

Wittenberg will attempt to get back into the win column this Saturday against Oberlin at Bill Edwards Field. The annual Alumni Game will follow, and a fundraising golf outing is slated for Sunday at Reid Park. For more information, check the Wittenberg web site.

September 26, 2001-

The Wittenberg men's soccer team went 2-1 last week, although the one loss was a disappointing and potentially costly one against NCAC rival Denison.

On Sunday, the Tigers claimed a 2-1 overtime victory over Baldwin-Wallace in the final match of the Anderson (Ind.) Tournament, a day after Wittenberg had dropped a hard-fought 2-0 decision to Heidelberg. Heading into this Wednesday's home match against Wilmington, the Tigers have a 3-2 record against Ohio Athletic Conference competition.

Against BW, sophomore forward Taggart Suddes (Ostrander, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) had both Tiger goals, the third time already this year that he has scored twice in a game. Then last Wednesday, Suddes topped himself with a hat trick against Muskingum in a 7-1 victory. He now leads the NCAC in points per game with 19 in nine games (2.11 per game). Not coincidentally, Suddes was named the NCAC Player of the Week, the first time he has been so honored.

Defense has been the Tigers' bedrock in 2001 as only one team all year has managed more than one goal in a game. Senior goalkeeper Danny Carman (Louisville, Ky./Male) ranks among the league leaders with a goals against average of 0.90.

September 12, 2001-

The Wittenberg men's soccer team continues to show promise in the early-going, compiling a 5-2 record that included a split of two games at the Anderson Invitational over the weekend. Head Coach Steve Dawson is now just five wins away from 200 for his fine career.

On Saturday, the Tigers dropped a hard-fought 2-0 decision to Ohio Athletic Conference power Heidelberg. But as they have all season, Wittenberg rebounded strongly to overcome another OAC squad, Baldwin-Wallace, by a 2-1 count in overtime.

In the most recent game, sophomore forward Taggart Suddes (Ostrander, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) had both Tiger goals, giving him a team-best six for the season. It was the third time this year that Suddes had scored two goals in a game.

The three goals senior goalkeeper Danny Carman (Louisville, Ky./Male) surrendered in the two weekend games left him with just eight goals allowed in seven games. Carman has allowed two goals in a game on just two occasions thus far in the 2001 season.