Patrick Pickering

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster pushed third-place Wabash College to the limit, but Mike Gore lifted the visiting Little Giants to a 2-1 triumph with a goal during Saturday's 89th minute as the North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer teams' completed the 2014 regular season at a cold and blustery John P. Papp Stadium.

Wooster (3-13-1, 0-9-0 NCAC) had led 1-0 on Patrick Pickering's first goal of the year. The junior chased down a misplayed ball by Wabash (13-2-3, 6-2-1 NCAC), brought it into the right side of the box, and converted the opportunity by chipping over the 'keeper in the match's 39th minute. It was his third career goal.

The Fighting Scots had the better scoring chances overall during the opening half, including a Matthew Kelly point-blank header about two minutes into the action that was smothered by the Little Giants' Dayton Jennings.

In the second half, Wabash, which had been nationally ranked earlier in the year, started out more aggressive and tied it in the 58th minute via a Riley Pelton goal, featuring a double assist.

With the score even, the two teams went back-and-forth. First, Wooster goalie Daniel Quinn made a solid save on a Little Giants' corner kick, then teammate Alex Hopkins had a brief look near the top of the box with Jennings out of position but a defender came flying in to block his shot.

It looked like the Scots were headed to their second overtime game of the week before a Wabash free kick was headed around the goal box, with Pelton eventually heading it down to Gore, who volleyed high into the netting for the decisive goal with 1:45 on the clock.

Wooster earned a late corner kick, but the hurried opportunity with just :13 remaining did not yield a high-quality look.

Prior to the game, the Scots honored their three seniors – forward Philip Charnley, midfielder Luke Collier, and the versatile Zach Jergan – who were playing their final collegiate game.