W&J Nips Wooster 9-8 in Triple OT Thriller

WOOSTER, Ohio – Tom Herold scored with 6:35 remaining in regulation to tie the game for the fourth time and force overtime, but Washington & Jefferson College netted the golden goal in the third extra period to spoil The College of Wooster's home opener Wednesday evening on Andrew Turf Field at John P. Papp Stadium.

The largest lead either team had was when the Presidents (3-1) were ahead of the Scots (2-1) by two, 6-4, late in the third quarter. It was at that juncture when the momentum began to shift, though, as Matt Ranck came out of a timeout with the ball at the edge of the attacking box, and drove straight past his defender for a goal with just three seconds left in the stanza to pull Wooster within 6-5.

The Presidents struck first in the fourth quarter to regain a two-point cushion, 7-5, but back-to-back goals from Harry Kemp and Evan Albertson less than a minute apart knotted the score (7-7) for the first time since early in the second quarter.

About a minute later, Washington & Jefferson took advantage up a man-up situation to go ahead 8-7, but the Scots responded with the equalizer when Ranck dished to Herold which tied the game at 8-8, where it stayed throughout regulation, although Albertson did fire off a shot with 15 seconds left on the clock that was saved.

The Scots best chances to net a game-winner came late in the second overtime, when Pat Henderson and Ranck rifled shots wide and high, respectively, in the closing moments of the period.

Ironically, the Presidents had struggled on face-offs throughout the game, winning just 6-of-23 against Wooster's specialist Max Rubin, but long-stick Ryan Cronin scooped up the opening face-off of the third overtime and sprinted into the attacking area, where he stunned the Scots with a game-winning goal on his lone shot attempt of the contest.

Both goalkeepers played well, as Matt Magoon made 15 saves, including four in extra periods, while his counterpart Ran Kirby recorded 18 saves.

Four Wooster players scored two goals each, Kemp, Herold, Ranck, and Albertson, while the Presidents were paced by Casey Smallwood's hat trick.

The Scots kick off a four-game road trip next Tuesday at Roanoke College (1-1) at 4 p.m.