By Caleb Scott

ADA -- The Ohio Northern men's soccer team defeated Wittenberg 2-1 in its home season opener Wednesdayevening at Kerscher Stadium.

The Polar Bears improve to 1-1-1 overall, while the Tigers fall to 0-2-0.

Northern was led in the contest by junior Joseph Schulte (Copley) and senior Colin Johnson (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) as the duo each scored a goal.

WU would strike first in the contest in the 12th minute as a Tiger forward received a pass from the Tiger keeper and beat a Northern defender to push the lead to 1-0.

ONU would score the equalizer in the 24th minute as seniors Cory Lains (Zionsville, Ind.) and Grant Cayot(Roanoke, Ind./Blackhawk Christian) found Schulte with a header and helped even the score at 1-1 before the intermission.

The Polar Bears would score what would prove to be the game winner in the 60th minute as Cayot played a free kick to Schulte in the goalies box who then found  Johnson who found the back of the net to seal the 2-1 victory.

Northern outshot Wittenberg by an 18-8 margin, and won the corner kick battle by a 13-1 margin.

Junior Kyle Dunnavant (Mount Vernon) earned the victory in the goal and improved his record 1-1-1 overall.

Dunnavant recorded two saves in the victory.

The Polar Bears return to action Friday, Sept. 8 at 3 pm as it competes in the first round of the ONU Invitational at Kerscher Stadium and takes on Kalamazoo (Mich.).