Bugler Sends Scots Into NCAC Tournament Title Game

Seniors Lindsay Tingley and Katelin Bugler (No. 28) celebrate Bugler's second goal Wednesday, which gave the Scots a commanding lead.

WOOSTER, Ohio – Katelin Bugler put in back-to-back goals in the second half to give The College of Wooster a 2-0 lead during Wednesday afternoon’s North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal meeting with rival Wittenberg University, and the second-seeded Fighting Scots went on to a 2-1 victory and shot at the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Div. III Tournament.

Wooster (11-8) moves on to Saturday’s conference tourney championship game at No. 1 seed Oberlin College (14-4), which knocked off Denison University 4-2 in Wednesday’s other semi.

After an opening half that saw few scoring opportunities for either side, the offenses picked up the pace in the second. The Scots struck first, behind Bugler, who scored off a rebound of her own shot that had initially hit off the goalkeeper’s pads, with 28:36 remaining.

Wooster nearly made it 2-0 just six minutes later via a penalty corner, but the officials whistled the play dead before the ball entered the cage.

Wittenberg (10-8) had a series of opportunities around the 10-minute mark. One good look was saved by Scot goalie Anne Leigh, while another rolled through the defense and past Leigh, but went just right of the net.

Moments later, Bugler came up the left side on a Wooster breakaway. Her initial attempt was saved, but the Tiger defense could not control the ball and Bugler stayed with it, oustretching a pair of Wittenberg backs to slap it in at the 7:29 mark for her 10th goal this season.

The Tigers responded just 3:15 later when Julia Wickham fired a shot within the circle that ricocheted off a Scot defender and into the cage to pull within one.

Wooster hung on, though, as it didn’t allow Wittenberg any more good looks over the final 4:14.

Leigh posted seven saves, while Nicole Irvin made nine for the visitors.

The Scots will get their third shot at Oberlin. The Yeowomen earned the regular season sweep, however, both games were close – 1-0 in Wooster Sept. 14 and 4-3 in strokes in Oberlin on Oct. 4. Saturday’s game time is slated for 1 p.m., and the winner will advance to the NCAA’s.