CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Matt Niemiec netted two goals and assisted on a third to lead Cedarville to a 3-2 non-conference victory over local rival Wittenberg under the lights.

The Yellow Jackets, 6-2-1 overall, never trailed in the match in ending a four-match winless streak against the Tigers. However, Wittenberg hung close by twice battling back from one-goal deficits to draw even.

Niemiec found the net in the 3rd minute for the early lead. Tim Green played a long ball to Ryan Thurman, who banged a hard shot off the keeper. Niemiec collected the rebound, maneuvered around the keeper, and slotted a shot into the empty cage.

Wittenberg equalized in the 16th minute by converting a penalty kick on what was its only shot on goal in the first period for a 1-1 deadlock at the break.

Niemiec set up Joseph Mueller in the 51st minute for a 2-1 advantage. The Tigers knotted the score again in the 70th minute when a restart from 30 yards out strangely bounced untouched one time through a crowd in the box and into the net.

The game winner came seven minutes later. Jason Bender crossed a ball into the penalty area that Eric Newman alertly headed to Niemiec who finished the shot inside the far post for his team-high sixth goal of the campaign.

Cedarville had the advantage in shots overall, 19-10, and in shots on goal, 9-2. Wittenberg drops to 1-7-2. [STATS]