Lauren Abbott

The College of Wooster field hockey team fell by 4-0 count to Denison University on Wednesday afternoon at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium in Granville, Ohio.

The Big Red (9-3, 6-2 North Coast Athletic Conference) got out to an early lead, as Abby Martone connected on her own rebound in the seventh minute for her seventh goal of the season.

A back-to-back shot sequence off a penalty corner in the 17th minute nearly brought the Fighting Scots (5-7, 3-4 NCAC) level.

Junior Lauren Abbott fed it in from the corner before eventually receiving the ball back in time to fire a shot on target. Denison goalkeeper Ellen Westfall – who was recently named NCAC Player of the Week – denied the first opportunity, as senior Kayla O'Connor put it back on frame off the rebound, only to be denied again after a diving stick save from Westfall.

Just before the end of the first half, the Big Red doubled down as Alyssa Bahel managed to deflect a ball to Jen Durbin, who placed it home for her third goal of the season, giving Denison a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Denison outshot Wooster 10-3 in the first half.

In the 42nd minute, Durbin turned facilitator, dishing the ball to teammate Charlotte Happel for her 11th goal of the season as Denison took a 3-0 advantage early in the second half.

Tori Rapillo capped off the day's scoring for the Big Red with a 55th minute tally off the deflection from Martone.

Westfall came up big defensively in the 56th minute, again denying consecutive shot opportunities from senior Rachel Wetzel and senior Leah Prescott, as they managed to put back-to-back shots on frame off a corner taken by Abbott.

Denison outshot the Scots 15-9 on the day while edging out a 7-6 advantage in corners.

Sophomore Lida LeVine finished with five saves, while Westfall finished seven.

The Scots resume action on Saturday as they travel to Gambier, Ohio for a 12 p.m. match against Kenyon College (7-4, 6-2 NCAC).