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Wooster Breaks Through Late to Top Allegheny 1-0 in Crucial NCAC Match-Up

Harper Jones
Carly Eppler

Sophomore Harper Jones came through in clutch fashion for The College of Wooster women's soccer team as the second-year midfielder tallied the game-winner in the 80th minute to lift the Fighting Scots over Allegheny College 1-0 in Wednesday night's critical road contest at Meadville, Pa.

With the victory, Wooster (6-8-4, 3-1-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) stands tied with DePauw University (8-6-1, 4-3-0 NCAC) for the fourth and final seed in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament with one conference game left to play for each program.

After an early test on senior goalkeeper Carly Eppler, the Scots went on the offensive for nearly the entire match, proving relentless in their counter attacking opportunities, especially early on, while holding the Gators to just a handful of scoring chances.

The through ball proved particularly dangerous early on for Wooster.

Sophomore Erica White did well in the 19th minute to time her run up the middle for a 1-on-1 opportunity after a leading ball from the right flank, but Allegheny 'keeper Colleen Fleming charged quickly to close the angle, a practice she would make considerable use of throughout the first half.

Senior Kathleen Kalafatis was the recipient of competent down-field possession from the Scots after the forward controlled a backline-splitting ball in stride for a breakaway opportunity in the 22nd minute, but again Fleming came out to deny the shot.

Wooster's first-half barrage continued in the 27th minute with White breaking away after a give-and-go exchange in the attacking third. With a defender on her back, White fired it low and left but just within reach of Fleming, who managed to get a hand on the strike before pouncing on the loose ball.

While Wooster maintained the advantage in big chances, Allegheny finished the first half with a 9-7 edge in shots, with Fleming tallying five saves compared to Eppler's four.

The second half marked the start of a dominant 45 minutes for the Scots, who went on to outshoot the Gators 13-4 and eventually break through what proved to be a defiant Gator defense.

Sophomore Caroline Dres nearly got Wooster on the board in the 47th minute after seizing a shot opportunity off a prior saved shot, only to be denied by Fleming before getting her own rebound and hitting the put-back off the post.

After an Allegheny foul in the 50th minute, Jones stepped up with a well-struck free kick that lifted over the wall before dropping on target and forcing Fleming into another difficult save.

Eppler stood vigilant in goal with a save in the 74th minute after a 20-yard shot from Isabella Martinez managed its way through a wall of players and on frame.

Just as it appeared that the Gator defense would successfully bunker down and force overtime, Jones broke through in the 80th minute for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Scots tallied three more shots before the final whistle as they finished with a 20-13 shot advantage on the day, led by a team-high five shots from first-year Claire Davis.

Eppler finished with six saves in her second shutout of the season.

Wooster returns home for its final regular season match of the year on Saturday, Oct. 29, against Wittenberg University (11-3-2, 6-1-1 NCAC) at 1 p.m.