Josie Rey

WOOSTER, Ohio – After a 70-minute defensive battle, Washington & Jefferson College emerged with a 1-0 victory to spoil The College of Wooster field hockey team's 2013 home opener Wednesday on Andrew Turf Field inside John P. Papp Stadium.

There were remarkably few scoring opportunities – 10 combined shots and seven penalty corners – as the teams went back-and-forth trading possessions all over the field. In fact, only two shots were recorded during the first half and none for the first nine-plus minutes of the second, until all of the sudden Washington & Jefferson's (5-2) Catherine Beaudoin took advantage of a misplay by the defense, collecting the ball in the circle and sliding one into the right side of the cage for a score.

That turned out to be the lone goal, but both offenses picked up the pressure for the final 25:23. Wooster (2-3) nearly evened the scoreboard nine minutes later when a run into the circle created two quick shots, the second a rebound attempt off the stick of Sarah McGrath that forced the goalie to make a save.

The Fighting Scots also had two penalty corners during the last 10 minutes, but were unable to get an attempt off.

Defensively, Josie Rey excelled as usual as the senior back constantly thwarted the visitors' attacks and Meredith Farley was solid in goal with five saves.

Wooster plays two more home games – both North Coast Athletic Conference affairs – this weekend, first Earlham (2-3, 0-2 NCAC) on Saturday at 5 p.m., and then DePauw University (3-3, 2-0 NCAC) Sunday at noon.