Wooster Doubles Up Capital, 18-9

BEXLEY, Ohio – The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team's early-season slate of games against Ohio Athletic Conference schools continued Wednesday night at Capital University, where the Fighting Scots scored an 18-9 win over the Comets at Bernlohr Stadium.

Wooster (4-1) senior Vinny DiLeo wasted no time climbing into the program's all-time top-10 in scoring, netting two goals in the opening 4:39. The senior's hesitation caught a Capital (1-4) defender off guard, and that moved DiLeo a step ahead on the way to the goal, setting up a one-on-one situation with Comet goalkeeper Luc Kadlic. DiLeo easily beat Kadlic for career goal 97, and the senior scored his 98th one early in the second stanza.

DiLeo's third goal of the night provided the boost Wooster needed to surge ahead. Wooster dropped in seven second-period goals to take a commanding 11-4 lead and four of them came in a span of 3:39. Faceoff wins by junior Rory Zahren and senior Jimmy Fisher enabled Wooster to pin three goals on Capital in just over a minute. Those scores opened a 6-2 lead. The faceoff dominance, plus Wooster's ride, limited Capital to just two possessions inside the offensive box in the first nine minutes of the second stanza. Wooster senior Paul Chandler came away with a save on both Capital scoring threats. Senior Henry McMahon caused a Nathan Montgomery turnover after Capital retained possession followed Chandler's first second-quarter save.

The forward-line pressure kept getting to Capital early in the second half. Sophomore Lane Kellogg denied Capital a successful clear on the opening faceoff. Senior Ben Byars scooped up the groundball and quickly upped the lead to 12-4 with his ninth goal of the year. Chandler stopped three Capital shots before first-year John Allen Ginder's feed to Kellogg helped Wooster extend its advantage to 13-4. Junior Will Fink quieted a late third-quarter Capital rally with his team-leading 11th goal of the year.

Kellogg powered the offense with three goals and three assists. DiLeo and Fink added three goals each, while junior Renick Wiltshire scored for the first time as a Scot in the fourth quarter. Fisher and Zahren combined to win 16-of-28 faceoffs, Fisher added five groundballs to his school-record haul, and McMahon and Zahren had three groundballs each. Chandler turned aside six Comet shots.

Mason Spaulding provided the majority of Capital's offense with five goals. Freddy Noday had primary faceoff duties and finished 10-of-21. James Howenstine and Noday scooped up four groundballs each, while Kadlic had seven saves to 18 goals against.

Wooster outshot Capital 46-29 and went 17-of-20 on clears to a 17-of-25 showing by the hosts.

Next, Wooster plays its fourth OAC school when the University of Mount Union (3-1) visits John P. Papp Stadium for a noon game on Saturday, March 9.