GRANVILLE, Ohio (October 25, 2023) – With matches against two of the top-three teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference women's soccer standings left on its schedule entering the final week of the regular season, Denison University suffered its first loss of the season in conference action as the Big Red fell 2-0 at home against Wittenberg University on Wednesday night.

The two teams entered the matchup with just one point separating them for second place in the NCAC standings, and although Denison outshot Wittenberg 13-6 in the first half, including 6-2 in shots on goal, it was the Tigers who scored the lone goal of the opening period as a cross by Alex Hill was tapped in by Ava Otey in the 17th minute.

After leading all players with four shots in the first half, Callie Davis came out with a shot from outside the top of the box that just missed high less than 15 seconds into the second half.

Three and a half minutes into the second half, however, a corner kick for Wittenberg led to a frenzy in front of the goal as Molly Noga made back-to-back saves before the Tigers' Emma Lindsey finally got a shot by her to make it 2-0.

After making six saves in the first half, Wittenberg goalkeeper Lily Winkle made her ninth save of the match on a shot by Kate Dalimonte in the 72nd minute, and then made another save on yet another shot by Davis in the 76th minute.

Shots by Eliza Roach (77th minute) and Ellie Reiser (80th minute) were both blocked, Kendall Sierens hit the crossbar in the 86th minute, and then Denison's final shot by Davis just before the final minute was saved again by Winkle.

Davis finished with eight shots, including four shots on goal, while Roach had five total shots and Reiser had four, but it was Winkle who stood on her head with 11 total saves.

After scoring only one goal on 32 shots last time out at Hiram College on Saturday, this time the Big Red were held to without a goal on 26 total attempts.

With the loss, the Big Red dropped to 6-3-6 overall and 3-1-2 in the NCAC while the Tigers improved to 6-6-5 and 4-1-1 and draw into a tie for first place in the conference standings.

Denison will now look to wrap up the regular season on a high note as they head to Delaware, Ohio, to battle another top team in the NCAC, Ohio Wesleyan University, starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 28. The Battling Bishops are now tied with Wittenberg for first place in the conference standings.