Wooster Comeback Attempt Just Short in 8-7 Setback to No. 17 Denison

The College of Wooster trailed by an 8-5 score with 4:20 left in the fourth quarter, and brought the game to within one at 8-7, scoring two goals just 56 seconds apart. However, a would-be game-tying shot sailed just wide as time expired, and Denison University held on for the key North Coast Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon in Granville, Ohio.

While it was the Fighting Scots' NCAC opener, Denison took a big step in securing the 2009 conference championship by improving to 2-0 with just three league games remaining.

Trailing 5-3 after three periods, Denison scored a quick goal :13 into the final period, and grabbed a 6-3 lead.

Not finished yet, Wooster (3-4, 0-1 NCAC) drew to within one via a pair of unanswered goals from Joe Sulliman and Mark Weschler. Then, two tallies by Denison's Emmett Jones and Alex Hardt made it an 8-5 game with 4:46. Scores from Weschler and Pat Coyne brought the visitors to within one, and set up the final sequence of events.

Weschler led all scorers with three goals, marking his third hat trick of the season, and upping his season goal total to 18. Also for the Scots, Pat Coyne had two goals and one assist, while Alex Mies passed out two assists.

Jones finished with three goals for the Big Red, while another contributor to the winning effort was Brady Burton with a goal and a helper.

Wooster freshman goalie Corey McGann had a career day between the pipes for the Scots. He posted a career-high 17 saves, including seven stops in the first and five more in the third. On the other end of the field, Denison's Greg Shannon was credited with seven saves.

The Scots look to snap their three-game losing streak on Tuesday when they travel to Latrobe, Pa., and take on St. Vincent College (2-5) with the opening face-off set for 4 p.m.