Wooster Wins NCAC Tourney Title, Headed to NCAAs for First Time Since 2001

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster scored three times and got a key save on a penalty stroke from Madalyn Myers, all during the second half of Saturday afternoon's North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championship game, as the Fighting Scots prevailed 3-0 over nemesis Kenyon College at Cindy Barr Memorial Field.

The title marked Wooster's first in the seven-year history of the NCAC tourney, and with it, comes an automatic berth into the NCAA Div. III Tournament. The Scots have not been part of the national field since the 2001 season.

Saturday's first half was evenly played. Neither offense could put one in the cage, with Wooster's defense turning away a couple of high-quality looks by Kenyon (10-12), which had beat higher-seeded Scot teams each of the last two years in the NCAC Tournament. About 7:20 into the action, Sophia Daly came free streaking down the left side, but her shot was blocked by Wooster back Anna Hurley. Myers also made a diving stop during a penalty corner approximately midway through the half.

Early in the second, the Scots broke the scoreless tie. Stephanie Standera, positioned on the left wing, sent a ball into the circle, skipping it over a pair of defenders sticks, and Amanda Artman was there to tap it in at the 30:30 mark. Just over 90 seconds later, Artman nearly made it 2-0, ripping a shot from atop the circle, but it sailed inches high.

Midway through the half, the Ladies had a series of chances, none better than the stroke. Maggie Gilligan lined up for the attempt, delivering it to the right, only to see Myers save it cleanly off her pad with 15:51 showing on the clock.

Wooster carried that momentum over on to the offensive end. The Scots made a series of runs into the Kenyon circle and converted on one with 8:42 remaining when Artman back-handed in a goal from the right side after receiving a pass from Nina Dine.

About four minutes later, Wooster tacked on an insurance goal, as Elizabeth Dwyer dribbled down the right and sent a cross to Briana Lynch, who used her length to reach past the defense and knock it in for the three-goal cushion.

Artman's two-goal day landed her NCAC Tournament MVP honors. Also of note, she broke the conference's single-season scoring record, now having totaled 69 points (28 goals, 13 assists), four better than Meg Filoon of Denison University in 1984 (65 points on 29 goals and seven assists).

Hurley, Myers, who finished the shutout with seven saves, and midfield standout Brittany Montgomery rounded out the Scots' all-tourney team selections, while Kenyon was represented by Daly, Sasha Grumman, and Perrin Legg. Honored from the semifinalists were Ohio Wesleyan University's Christa Cocumelli and Melissa Martin and Meredith Price and Beth Vonderbrink of Wittenberg University.

The NCAA is expected to announce the brackets on Sunday.