U of R Edges Scots in Overtime

The University of Rochester's Christi Bottcher scored midway through the first overtime, lifting her squad to a 4-3 comeback win over visiting College of Wooster Sunday afternoon in non-conference field hockey action at Fauver Stadium.

Wooster (2-2) used a three-goal burst in the first half to take a 3-2 lead, but Rochester (3-1) came up with the equalizer late in regulation. During overtime, the Fighting Scots had the first high-quality look, as Nina Dine intercepted a penalty corner attempt by the Yellow Jackets, dribbled to midfield, and sent the ball over to Brittany Montgomery. She, in turn, passed it over to Amanda Artman, who fired a shot wide right.

A few minutes later, Bottcher gained control of a shot that was initially blocked by the Wooster defense and lifted it over a lunging Madalyn Myers for the game-winner.

Almost all of the game's scoring came early, as the offenses combined for five goals over the first 22:08. Rochester struck twice within the opening 10:29, but the Scots quickly answered those tallies with two of their own just 40 seconds apart. Eileen Barrer slapped in an unassisted goal from about six yards out and then Artman chipped a pass from the right side to the left post, where Briana Lynch knocked it in to tie the game.

About 10 minutes later, Barrer gave Wooster a 3-2 lead as she again delivered a ball through a packed goalmouth. It marked her fifth goal already this season.

The Scots continued to hold that one-goal edge for the next 39-plus minutes of action before the Jackets' Amanda Case helped send it to the extra session, hitting the back of the cage with 8:18 left in regulation.

Myers, a freshman 'keeper making her first career start, collected 11 saves, including two in overtime, while her counterpart, Danielle Pearson, made seven stops.

Wooster opens up North Coast Athletic Conference play next, with one of its top rivals, Kenyon College, coming to Cindy Barr Memorial Field Saturday for an 11 a.m. match-up.