Benjamin, Rodríguez Score First Collegiate Goals in 3-2 Win

WOOSTER, Ohio – Sophomore Brooke Benjamin's first collegiate goal broke a 2-2 tie and helped The College of Wooster field hockey team to a 3-2 win over Earlham College on Sunday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.

Wooster (2-5, 1-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) was on a penalty corner when the go-ahead score occurred with just inside nine minutes remaining. Wooster inserter Audrey McKenna sent the ball to the top where junior Lizzie Hardy shot it towards the middle of the cage. Benjamin was perfectly positioned to deflect the Hardy shot past Earlham (1-8, 1-2 NCAC) goalie Ainsley Kemp.

Benjamin was the defensive hero late as well with a diving defensive save during Earlham's final offensive attack. Wooster junior goalkeeper Cate Barkdoll got an initial deflection on the Meredith McGraw shot, but it was leaking towards goal territory until Benjamin stopped it. That play came with just over four minutes remaining and during a run of three Quaker penalty corners in a 22-second span.

Junior Coco Rodríguez became a first-time collegiate scorer in the 13th minute. Wooster's forward was left wide open by Earlham at the post. With all attention focused on sophomore Naledi Jani's drive towards the cage, Rodríguez was able to easily tap in the feed from the Scots' other forward for the game's first goal. It took Rodríguez just two minutes to double the collegiate goal count. Hardy played a ball in from about 28 yards out of goal and Rodríguez was able to redirect the lead pass into the cage to make it 2-1 with two seconds remaining in the first period.

Piper Brill tied the game at one knocking in a chip from outside the circle in the 15th minute and it was 2-2 on Earlham's Meredith McGraw's penalty stroke in the 40th minute.

Barkdoll stopped five Earlham shots for win two of the year in goal. Kemp ended the day with two saves.

Earlham outshot Wooster 18-7. The Quakers had a 12-3 lead on corners, but did not score on any of them.

Next, Wooster plays a non-conference game at Oberlin College (0-7) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 3.