Lauren Abbott

Emma Roderick

WOOSTER, Ohio – Junior Lauren Abbott recorded a hat trick as The College of Wooster field hockey team topped Transylvania University 3-1 to cap a 2-0 weekend on Sunday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.

The third goal by Abbott was perhaps the most crucial one for Wooster (2-3), as it came with 2:10 left in the game and put the Fighting Scots up by a pair of scores. On that play, senior Kerry O'Connor crossed the ball into the scoring area and sophomore Erika Womack worked O'Connor's feed to the far post where Abbott knocked it in.

Right before Abbott completed the hat trick, junior Emma Roderick came up with two big plays on the defensive side of the field. First, the back stepped in front of a Transylvania (0-3) pass, and later maneuvered around a pass, both of which helped thwart potential offensive threats by the Pioneers.

Abbott's first goal came in the 16th minute, when the Pioneers' defense left her wide open. Senior Kayla O'Connor played the ball in from the opposite side of the field, with Transylvania's goalkeeper coming out to make a play. The pass squirted through enabling Abbott to chip the game's opening score.

Then, about eight minutes later, Kerry O'Connor deflected a rebound into Abbott's stick, with the latter deflecting the rebound in putting Wooster on top 2-1.

Transylvania's goal came in the 21st minute when Jessica Chandler knocked in a feed from Cyara Bacon.

Wooster's Lida LeVine picked up two saves on the afternoon, including a big one in the 66th minute. While not a save attempt, she also contributed a key knock away on a ball played into the scoring area from outside the circle.

Wooster finished with a 19-5 shot advantage, and had eight more penalty corners than Transylvania.

Notable, Abbott's three-goal afternoon marked the first hat trick by the Scots since sophomore Rose Taylor scored a quartet of goals at Oberlin College on Oct. 3, 2015.

Wooster, in the midst of a five-match homestand, hosts Earlham College (3-2, 0-1 North Coast Athletic Conference) in a 5 p.m. tilt on Friday.