A Gritty Rise to No. 7
For the first time this season, Wittenberg Men’s soccer cracked the regional rankings last week, landing at No. 7 after a gritty road trip that proved the Tigers can hang with nationally recognized programs.
The breakthrough followed a tight 2-1 win over No. 23 UMass Boston, a match defined by frontman Asher Donahue's late composure and a defense that refused to bend. Two days later, Wittenberg battled Emerson College to a scoreless draw in the pouring rain, closing out the weekend with four points and a new sense of momentum.
That momentum didn’t come out of nowhere. The Tigers opened the season with a steady climb: a late 1-0 winner over Franciscan, a commanding 3-0 shutout of Muskingum, and a 0-0 draw against Mount St. Joseph, showcasing defensive consistency.
But the week after the Boston triumph reminded the team how thin the margins can be. Wittenberg tied Earlham 1-1 and fell 2-0 to Alma this past weekend, a stretch that cooled the ranking heat, but didn’t shake the group’s confidence.
“It was a good start to the season with some ups and downs,” said goalkeeper Aidan Rice, Class of 2029. “We’re looking forward to doing better in conference.”
Inside the locker room, the message is steady despite the mixed results. “The team is trying to come together, stick together as one unit,” captain Asher Donahue, Class of 2028, said. “We struggle together and we succeed together. The only thing we can do is get ourselves back on track and trust each other.”
Head coach Dwight Burgess echoed that mindset as the Tigers prepare for their final nonconference tests. “We have proven we can compete at the highest level. Not wished for it, proved it,” Burgess said. “Today begins a new week, and we’re in control of what’s next.”
What's in Store
Conference play in the NCAC is about a week away, and the Tigers will have one final tune-up, set for a late-night duel in Westerville, Ohio against Otterbein University on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. to sharpen the edges before the games that matter most.
Whether the No. 7 ranking becomes a turning point or a footnote will depend on how Wittenberg responds. But for a team that has just proved it can compete on the road against ranked opponents in a tough environment, the path forward remains open to several possibilities.
