ONU Tops Wittenberg 3-1

Yesterday evening the ONU Women's Soccer team went into Springfield, OH and took on a very tough Wittenberg University team. Wittenberg was coming off a great win v the #9 team in the country, IL Wesleyan. This match was a great in region win for the Polar Bears, coming away with a 3-1 result.
The Polar Bears got off to a quick start, notching a goal in the opening minutes of play after a few very good chances. Sami Atkinson walked away from the match with her second career hat trick and first three goals of the 2011 season. "She's been working so hard to get that first goal" said Head Coach Mark Batman. "I just told her to not worry so much about scoring goals and just make a difference for us each time she's on the field, if you do that, goals will happen." That's exactly what happened as she took an early pass from Abbie Schauble behind the Wittenberg back line and scored the breakaway opportunity, giving ONU the 1-0 lead. ONU would take that lead into halftime after Wittenberg really pressed for an equalizer late in the half.
Just moments into the second half, Atkinson combined with Schauble again for her second goal of the game, making the score 2-0. Wittenberg would strike back on a bouncing ball in the penalty area and get a goal of their own. ONU would then seal the game when Atkinson took a pass from teammate Alyssa Merrick at the top of the Wittenberg penalty area. Atkinson spun her defender and laced a ball past the Wittenberg gk for her third goal of the night.
Thoughts from Head Coach Mark Batman, "This was a great win for the girls tonight. They really did well and I'm very proud of them coming here and getting this result. We keep telling them that this is a process and to not get caught up on results, if we continue to grow, the results will come naturally. Making the trip last weekend certainly helped us tonight but we know we have a tough road ahead with Thomas More on Saturday and then Denison on Wednesday. Both are teams who could potentially be playing in November in the NCAA's."
The Polar Bears are back in action on Saturday at 1p as they take on Thomas More College who won the PAC in 2010.