Sydney Schuster

Caitlyn O'Connor

WOOSTER – Eight goals from four players on 41 total shots headlined The College of Wooster field hockey team's season opener against Wells College, as the Black and Gold took down the Express by an 8-0 count on a cool Sunday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.

First-year Sydney Schuster led the charge with a hat-trick and two assists in her first collegiate game, followed by two-goal contributions from first-year Caitlyn O'Connor and junior captain Erika Womack, as well as a lone goal from sophomore Grace O'Leary.

Schuster got the ball rolling early on, tallying the game's opening goal just over five minutes into the game off an open rebound opportunity. O'Leary followed that up just under three minutes later with a close-range conversion.

O'Connor closed the first half scoring with a back-post finish off the feed from Schuster.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Schuster to O'Connor connection materialized in similar fashion, as O'Connor tucked away a well-placed pass near the far post.

Nearly four minutes later, Womack found the back of the cage on a put-back shot before claiming a brace nearly five minutes later thanks to a great ball from classmate Rose Taylor.

Schuster closed the game's scoring with two goals coming less than two minutes apart. The first-year recorded a brace in the 55th minute before earning the hat trick moments later off the assist from classmate Maggie Brown.

Today's win marks the first season-opening victory for the Scots since the 2009 season and the biggest margin of victory since Oct. 18, 2013, when Wooster defeated Earlham College 8-0.

Up next, Wooster hosts Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 4:30 p.m. at John P. Papp Stadium.