Wooster Falls Prey to Witt’s Second-Half Surge

Abby Szlachta
Abby Szlachta

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster was right there with Wittenberg University in the first half, with the score tied at 7-7 just moments before the break, but the Tigers' offense exploded for eight unanswered goals during a near 18-minute stretch in the second stanza which was the key to their 22-11 victory Wednesday afternoon in a battle between North Coast Athletic Conference rivals at John P. Papp Stadium.

As has been the case in many of their setbacks this season, the Fighting Scots (1-6, 1-2 NCAC) looked to be the better team in the early goings, as Shelby Stone and Ellie Hudson-Heck each scored on assists from Eliza Perry during the initial 1:36 of play to go ahead 2-0.

Wittenberg (8-2, 4-0 NCAC) and Wooster then began trading goals, with Wooster continuing to hold leads at 4-2 and 5-4, until the Tigers scored two in a row to take their first lead of the game at 6-5.

Perry knotted up the score twice for Wooster, once at 6-6 and again at 7-7 on a free-position shot with 2:03 remaining before halftime. That was when the momentum started to shift, as Wittenberg scored three quick goals to earn a 10-7 advantage at intermission.

The game seemed like it was going to remain competitive, as Hudson-Heck completed a hat trick with a tally just 27 seconds into the second half which drew the Scots within two (10-8). Following that goal, it was all Wittenberg, as it shocked Wooster with eight goals in a row to build a commanding 18-8 cushion with under 10 minutes to go in the contest that it rode to victory.

The Tigers had two things going for them that certainly played major roles in the outcome: they led 22-12 in draw controls and they earned 10 free-position shots, converting seven.

Perry stood out on the stat sheet with three goals and three assists, which all came in the first half, while Hudson-Heck (3 goals), Stone (2 goals, 1 assist), and Abby Szlachta (2 goals, 1 assist) each contributed three points.

Isabel Perman made 10 saves in goal and Molly Sennett caused four turnovers.

The Scots will look to get back into the win column when they visit DePauw University (3-6, 2-2 NCAC) on Sunday at 11 a.m.