Wabash College controlled much of the second-half action Saturday afternoon, outshooting Wittenberg University 12-7 over the final 45 minutes, but a late Tigers goal handed the Little Giants a 1-0 loss in North Coast Athletic Conference soccer action at Fischer Field.
Wabash (10-7-1, 1-5-0 NCAC) generated 12 of its 15 shots after halftime and earned all five of its corner kicks in the second period. The Little Giants also received a season-high eight saves from goalkeeper Rafael Cordova, including six in the first half, to keep the match scoreless until Wittenberg (6-5-5, 3-3-1 NCAC) broke through in the 74th minute.
The Little Giants weathered an early offensive push by Wittenberg, which held a 10-3 advantage in first-half shots. Cordova made his first save on a Brendon Raggiunti attempt in the 11th minute before stopping three consecutive shots during a 90-second stretch midway through the period. He added saves in the 30th and 39th minutes to preserve the scoreless tie.
Bryce Kinnaman provided Wabash with two first-half scoring opportunities, sending attempts high in the 12th and 32nd minutes. Logan Dottenwhy created the Little Giants’ best scoring chance of the opening period with a shot in the 41st minute that was turned away by the Wittenberg defense for a team save.
Wabash emerged from halftime with renewed offensive pressure, producing six shots and two corner kicks during an eight-minute stretch early in the second period. Kinnaman had an attempt blocked in the 50th minute before Ethan Simmons sent a shot wide in the 52nd. Kinnaman forced Wittenberg goalkeeper Aidan Rice into a save in the 56th minute, and the Little Giants followed with three more shots over the next 63 seconds. Attempts by Kinnaman and Colton Hughes-Suiters were blocked before Danny Tkachuk sent a shot over the crossbar.
The Little Giants continued to create opportunities as Willer Montesinos had an attempt blocked in the 64th minute. Wabash maintained its defensive effort at the other end, with Cordova making another save in the 59th minute to keep the match tied.
Wittenberg eventually broke the deadlock at the 73:48 mark when Asher Donahue scored his seventh goal of the season off an assist from Gaberial Rahm, giving the Tigers a 1-0 advantage.
Wabash responded with another offensive surge over the final 16 minutes. Simmons had a shot blocked in the 77th minute before the Little Giants earned consecutive corner kicks. Alex Burke added a blocked attempt in the 80th minute, and Tkachuk forced Rice into a save just 10 seconds later.
Cordova kept Wabash within striking distance with his eighth save of the afternoon, stopping an Ever Zepeda attempt at 80:37. Gabe Sanich replaced Cordova in goal for the final 9:23 and helped keep Wittenberg from adding to its lead.
The Little Giants continued searching for the equalizer. Tkachuk sent another attempt wide in the 83rd minute, and Montesinos produced Wabash’s final shot in the 88th minute, but the Tigers preserved the one-goal victory.
Kinnaman led Wabash with five shots, including one on goal. Tkachuk finished with three attempts and one shot on goal, while Simmons and Montesinos added two shots apiece. Dottenwhy accounted for the Little Giants’ other shot on goal.
Cordova finished with eight saves in 80:37 of action, the highest single-game total by a Wabash goalkeeper this season. The Little Giants finished with 15 shots and three on goal compared to 17 shots and nine on goal for Wittenberg. Wabash held a 12-7 advantage in second-half shots and a 5-2 edge in corner kicks after halftime.
Donahue scored the lone goal for Wittenberg, while Raggiunti and Kaden Pilkington led the Tigers with four shots apiece. Rice recorded two saves, with the Wittenberg defense adding a team save, to complete the shutout.
Wabash returns to Fischer Field on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. NCAC match against Denison University for the Little Giants’ home finale of the season.
