Heather Szymanski

Jordan Stone

A four-goal performance from sophomore Jordan Stone and a hat-trick from senior captain Heather Szymanski helped will the Fighting Scots to a 17-14 victory over Div. II opponent Walsh University on Wednesday night at Vasco Field in North Canton, Ohio, as The College of Wooster women's lacrosse program opened its season with a win over the Cavaliers for the second straight year.

Wooster (1-0) found itself down early as Walsh busted open a 2-0 lead within the first two minutes before tacking on a third less than three minutes later.

The Scots answered with an impressive run of their own, however, tallying six consecutive goals – three on man-up opportunities – with two of the six coming off the stick of Szymanski, who scored the fourth and fifth goals on solo efforts less than 50 seconds apart.

After a goal from Walsh's Margaret Anderson brought the Cavaliers to within two (6-4) with 6:39 remaining in the first half, Wooster sophomore Megan Healy connected on her second goal of the half before another tally from first-year Jenny Grossmann, who opened the Scots' scoring effort back at the 17:45 mark, to make it a four-goal Wooster lead with 3:52 left in the first.

Playing a man-up in the closing three minutes, Walsh's Lane Brunkala cut the deficit to three (8-5) heading into the break.

The Cavaliers (0-1) would inch back within one goal before eventually tying it up at 10 apiece after back-to-back goals from Aly Jajack with just over 18 minutes remaining, as Walsh opened the half with three of the first four goals as part of a larger 5-2 run.

As we approached the game's final quarter and both teams in need of separation, goals from sophomores Laura Papp and Emma Lawrence were answered right back from Walsh's Maria Nobile and Emma Armour.

Critical to the Scots' win was a late 4-0 run, headlined by two goals from junior Helena Enders who started and capped the run as Wooster pulled ahead 16-12 with 11:12 left to play.

Respective goals from Armour and Nobile cut the lead to two before Lawrence netted her second of the game on a man-up advantage to seal Wooster's lead at three (17-14) with less than three minutes remaining.

Overall, seven different Scots found the back of the net at least twice by game's end as Wooster prevailed in the season lidlifter for the second straight season.

Statistically, the Scots were 5-of-9 on free position shots while logging 26 of 33 total shots on frame. Wooster won the draw control battle, 21-12, and doubled Walsh's ground ball total with 14 on the evening. In addition, the Scots came out of Canton with 16 caused turnovers, including three from both Papp and Szymanski.

In goal, first-year Emma Hambright finished with seven saves.

Up next, Wooster travels to Ohio Northern University (1-0) on Friday, March 3 for a 5 p.m. start time.