Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 1, Wittenberg 1

by Michaela Alfano '25

Junior back Gabe O'Reilly (Westerville/Columbus St. Charles) scored the lone goal for Ohio Wesleyan in a 1-1 tie against Wittenberg to start North Coast Athletic Conference play on Friday at the Jay Martin Soccer Complex.

The first half was scoreless but both teams pressed heavily, showcasing their defensive efforts.

At the start of the second, the Tigers were able to get on the board in the 47th minute with a goal from Casey Meltzer.  Josh Pawlicki sent a free kick curling into the box which Meltzer was able to get a head on, sending it right past the fingers of junior goalkeeper Sam Whitman (Baltimore, Md./Friends School of Baltimore).

The Bishops got one back in the 59th to even the score.  Freshman back Alex Bucher (Centerville) took a free kick that landed at the head of O'Reilly, who sent it in.

Ohio Wesleyan continued to press the rest of the game, getting off 16 shots in the second half to Wittenberg's 2.  The Bishops threatened during the final minute, freeing senior forward Jaggar Brooker (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) on a breakaway, but Wittenberg keeper Peter Adams got a hand on Brooker's shot toward the left post.  Ohio Wesleyan had a corner kick during the closing seconds, but senior midfielder Landon Kuhn (Lewis Center/Olentangy Berlin) saw his drive batted away from the goal mouth by Adams and 2 more shots were blocked by the Tiger defense.

"We're disappointed in the result," said head coach Jay Martin. "When you have 24 shots, 8 on target, and you only score one goal, that's ridiculous.  I thought we played well defensively.  We gave up a goal on a corner kick but we fought back and had some chances."

Kuhn led in shots for the Bishops with 6 off the bench and Brooker followed with 5.  Whitman made one save between the posts. 

Box Score