A rebound shot by freshman Ryan Leagre (Fishers, IN/Hamilton Southeastern) (photo left) gave Wabash its first goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 3-0 deficit on Sunday afternoon. The Little Giants lost to the DePauw University Tigers 3-1 in the final game of the 2004 Wabash Soccer Classic at Mud Hollow Field.
Senior Tom Reifenberg (Ft. Wayne, IN/Bishop Dwenger) took a penalty kick in the 88th minute after DePauw was whistled for a hand ball inside the box. Reifenberg’s shot blasted off of the goal crossbar and back to Leagre. The freshman fired a header over DePauw goalie Kyle Clemens and into the back of the net for his first collegiate score.
Wabash added two more offensive attacks late in the contest in an effort to draw even. Reifenberg took off on a breakaway attempt, but the Tiger defense recovered, knocking his shot away from the mouth of the goal. Jeff Diebel (JR/Ft. Wayne, IN/Homestead) slammed a ball toward the upper corner of the net, but the attempt was just high.
The Wabash fans thought the Little Giants had tied the score early in the contest when freshman Michael-Paul Hutchins (Portage, IN/Portage) lifted a shot over Clemens, only to see the ball just miss and sail into the right side of the net. Wabash was attempting to answer a goal by Page Cotton that was scored in the fourth minute of the match to give DePauw a 1-0 lead. The Tigers added an unassisted goal by Mario Ingraffia in the 49th minute, then scored again in the 54th minute to secure the win.
Will McAdams (JR/Carmel, IN/Carmel) made five saves in the crease for Wabash. The Little Giants increased their shot total to 18 on Sunday with six shots on goal.
Wabash will try for its first win of the season next weekend. The Little Giants travel to Holland, Michigan to play Hope College on Friday night, followed by a Saturday afternoon match against Calvin College on Saturday afternoon.