Scots Fall in NCAC Tournament Finals in Three Overtimes, 14-13

Jamie Dannenberg

The College of Wooster’s bid for a second-straight North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championship came to an end Saturday afternoon in heartbreaking fashion, as Ohio Wesleyan University’s Alexa Deaton scored 2:37 into the third overtime, helping the hosts upend the Scots 14-13 at Roy Rike Field.

With the game knotted at 12-12 with just :45 left in the second half, Ohio Wesleyan’s Haleigh Rohr scored on a free-position shot, putting the Battling Bishops up by one. Wooster won the ensuing draw control, eventually finding the stick of junior Carly Carey, who once again tied the contest finding the back of the Ohio Wesleyan net with :24 remaining. Again, Wooster gained the draw control, but a shot by Hillary Darragh with :06 showing on the clock was saved by Ohio Wesleyan goalkeeper Maggie Eichenlaub, sending the contest into two three-minute timed overtime periods.

Neither team could put the game away, as the game changed late in the first overtime period when Darragh was assessed a yellow card, Wooster's fourth of the game. The Fighting Scots (10-6) played the rest of the first overtime and most of the second overtime down a player, but Wooster goalie Jamie Dannenberg tallied a pair of saves on Ohio Wesleyan free-position shots, and the Wooster defense helped preserve the tie headed into the sudden-death third overtime.

The two squads traded the first four goals of the contest over a 3:02 span, as Wooster’s scores came via an unassisted goal by Amy Denny, and a free-position shot by Taryn Higgins. The Fighting Scots reeled off a 3-0 run on tallies from Darragh, Cassie Brown, and Carey for a 5-2 lead with 20:44 left in the opening half. Ohio Wesleyan answered back, scoring four of the final five goals and possessed a 6-5 halftime bulge.

Following an Ohio Wesleyan free-position goal by Hannah Mudge with 6:02 elapsed in the second half, Wooster managed a 4-0 run, which was promptly matched by Ohio Wesleyan tying the game at 10-10 with 12:39 left. The teams exchanged the final four goals setting up the final sequence of events.

Carey finished with four goals for Wooster, while Nina Dine contributed two goals and assisted on two others. Additionally for the Scots, Higgins and Darragh recorded two goals apiece, while Cassie Brown wound up with a goal and a helper. 

For Ohio Wesleyan (10-4), Kadi Kuhlenberg led all players with five goals, while Mudge added two goals and two assists, and Rohr tacked on two goals.

In between the pipes for Wooster, Dannenberg was credited 10 saves on the afternoon, giving her 21 for the tournament, and landed her a spot on the NCAC All-Tournament team that was selected by the coaches. Also finding spots on the all-tourney team for Wooster were Darragh, Higgins, and Becca Worthington.