Scots Open Play in NCAC with 16-4 Win over Hiram

The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team frustrated Hiram College all game long, and they defeated the Terriers 16-4 Saturday in their North Coast Athletic Conference opener.

Shaun Peirce and Drake Nickolaison each scored a game-high four goals to lead the Scots. Cullen Kuhn, Adam Yeo and Zach Cunanan each scored two. Joe Altieri and Ted Wells rounded out the scoring, while Wells recorded a game-high five assists.

Wooster scored the game's opening two goals but Hiram and Wooster traded goals through the rest of the first. Peirce scored with two seconds remaining, and the Scots took a 4-2 lead after one.

The turning point in the game came when Wooster took advantage of a two-minute un-releasable penalty in the second quarter by scoring three man-up goals in a span of 1:05.

Leading 5-3 at the time, Peirce, Kuhn and Cunanan all scored to extend the Wooster lead. Nickolaison scored a minute later, and at halftime Wooster led 9-3.

After Hiram scored to open the second half, Wooster was in control for the remainder of the game. The Scots scored five unanswered in the third before slowing things down in the fourth with a sizable lead.

Wesley Wagner picked up the win after making six saves. 

Wooster collected 46 ground balls. Joe Citera led the team with six.

Wooster was 11-for-21 in face offs, 16-for-22 in clears and outshot the Terriers 56-19.

Wooster improves to 2-6 overall and 1-0 in the NCAC, while Hiram drops to 5-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference. The Scots lead the all-time series 7-0.

Wooster will face Baldwin Wallace University on Wednesday in a non-conference matchup.