Scots Exit NCAC Semifinals Against Top Seeded Denison

GRANVILLE – The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team could not pull off the upset Thursday as the No. 4 seeded Scots fell to the No. 1 seeded Denison University Big Red 14-4 in the semifinals of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.

Denison came out hot, scoring the first four goals within the first five minutes of the game. 

Their aggressiveness resulted in six shots, three assists and a man-up goal, while causing three turnovers as Wooster went 1-for-3 in clear attempts.

A time out from the Wooster bench righted the ship for the time being as the defense did not allow another goal for the remaining of the quarter. After the time out, Wooster lost the faceoff but a save from Paul Chandler led to a successful clear and Wooster's first goal as Austin Jourde found Will Fink for the score.

Wooster inched a little closer before the end of the first as leading scorer Lane Kellogg scored with 1:32 left. Wooster trailed 4-2 at the end of one quarter of play.

Denison looked to replicate its hot start in the second and did so initially by scoring in the first 40 seconds. Luke Fisher scored his second goal of the game to make it 5-2.

Wooster was able to contain the Big Red from going on another quick run, but Denison eventually managed to expand its lead while shutting out Wooster in the quarter, taking an 8-2 lead at halftime. 

Denison stayed consistent in the third. A quick goal and another total of four goals to expand its lead.

Wooster scored its first goal since late in the first quarter when Colton Beaudoin found the back of the net with 1:07 remaining.

Denison then won the fourth 2-1. Wooster's final goal came with 6:20 left when Kellogg found Ben Byars for the goal.

It was a bittersweet moment for the senior as the goal put Byars at 100 points for his career. Meanwhile, Kellogg's goal was his 49th of the year which ties him for fourth for a single season.

Chandler ended with 12 saves as he faced 47 shots from the Big Red. Kellogg led the team with four groundballs.

Casey Steffen and Bill Holtzer each recorded two caused turnovers. Steffen, who already holds the record for most career caused turnovers at Wooster, ends with 193 in his career.

Wooster won just 8 of 22 faceoffs, were 15 of 22 on clears and committed 20 turnovers.

Overall, Wooster improved from their first meeting when they fell 23-6 at Denison on April 20. The Scots finish the year at 11-7.