Second Half Surge Leads Men’s Lacrosse Past Otterbein

Scots go up big in fourth to take 13-3 victory

Zahren and DiLeo
Zahren and DiLeo
February 25, 2023

WESTERVILLE - The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team used a strong second half to pull away for a 13-3 road victory over Otterbein University on Saturday.

After a low-scoring first half, Wooster (2-0) only led 3-2 at the intermission and 5-2 after three periods. However, the Scots exploded for a 5-0 run to start the fourth quarter and pulled away from the Cardinals (0-2). 

Both sophomore Will Fink and first-year Lane Kellogg each netted three goals while Fink also dished out two assists. Sophomore Rory Zahren and first-year Luke Budd were the Scots' other multi-goal scorers with two goals apiece.

Meanwhile, junior Jimmy Fisher grabbed five ground balls, which moves him into a tie for fifth in program history with 186 career ground balls. 

Zahren won the opening faceoff and quickly found Kellogg for the Scots' first goal, just three seconds into the game. Otterbein answered with a man-up goal with 10:53 remaining in the first period. However, sophomore Colton Beaudoin had an answer with an unassisted goal to break the tie at the 3:52 mark, and Wooster led 2-1 after one frame. 

Only two combined goals were scored in the second quarter. Wooster regained the lead for good with 2:55 remaining in the half with one of Budd's two scores. 

Kellogg and Fink added to the lead with unassisted goals in the third period while six different Scots found the back of the net during the offensive explosion in the fourth quarter. 

Wooster won every single faceoff in the game, including 11 faceoffs won for Zahren and eight for Fisher. Zahren also collected a team-high six ground balls. 

Junior Paul Chandler got the win in the net, making four saves. Sophomore Jason Astle also saw action in the second half, turning aside two shots. 

The Scots will host Capital University in the team's home opener on Wednesday at John P. Papp Stadium.