Big First Half Lifts Scots Over Wittenberg 11-5

Annie Steward

WOOSTER, Ohio – After beginning the season with a 1-3 record, The College of Wooster has turned things around, rattling off their fourth consecutive win, and using a dominating first half to hand visiting Wittenberg University an 11-5 setback Saturday at a cool and damp Carl Dale Field.

The Fighting Scots (5-3, 2-0 NCAC) took control of the game from the start, lighting up the scoreboard 1:20 into action on a goal by Hillary Darragh, igniting a 7-0 Wooster scoring blitz, before the Tigers could manage to slip one past Scot net-minder Jamie Dannenberg with 1:05 remaining in the first half.

During the Scots’ first-period dominance, Wooster steadily peppered the Wittenberg net and gradually built a 7-0 lead, thanks to Darragh and Cassie Brown, who each netted two goals during the frame, with other scores coming from Carly Carey, Annie Steward and Emily Baab.

With the Scots ahead 7-1, the Tigers came out roaring in the second period, tallying three consecutive goals within a three-minute time frame, beginning when Michelle Hanners found the back of the net at the 25:32 mark, while Beth Vonderbrink and Amber Cupples each followed suit to bring the game within three (7-4) with 22:51 showing on the clock.

Wooster thwarted any Wittenberg thoughts at a comeback, however, outscoring the Tigers 4-1 the remainder of the game, behind goals by Taryn Higgins, Carey, Steward and Allison Rubin, to walk away the six-point victors.

Leading the Scot firepower was Steward, who tallied four-points during the contest on two goals and two assists.  A trio of other Wooster players – Brown, Darragh and Carey – also turned in multi-goal performances.

For Wittenberg, Cupples led all players in the contest with three goals.

Defensively, Dannenberg stopped nine shots in goal for the Scots, while her counterpart, Sarah Zane, tallied 15 saves in a losing effort.

Wooster will be back on the field on Sunday, when it steps outside conference action to host the University of Puget Sound in an 11 a.m. affair.