Scots Too Much For Aurora, Win 9-2 in Season Opener

WOOSTER, Ohio – Joe Suliman and Matt Ranck each recorded hat tricks, which included goals within seven seconds of each other near the end of the second quarter, helping lead The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team past Aurora University 9-2 on Sunday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.

For the second-consecutive year the Scots (1-0) hosted their home opener with piles of snow surrounding the field, but it didn't slow down the action on the synthetic playing surface. Wooster got on the scoreboard first when Patrick Schlick, a defensive midfielder, scored only his third career goal 5:22 into the action. Ranck put Wooster up 2-0 about three minutes later, when Eric Johnson's shot was deflected by an Aurora (0-1) defender, and Ranck was there to scoop up the ground ball and beat the 'keeper.

Aurora pulled within 2-1 with a goal early in the second quarter, but Nick Spittle and Suliman responded with back-to-back goals over a 1:13 span to push Wooster's lead to 4-1. After a six-minute scoring draught, Aurora's Justin Bose made it a two-goal game (4-2) with 1:59 until halftime, but the Scots again kept the Spartans at bay with a another quick pair of goals. Suliman scored the first with 1:05 left on the clock, and then Matt Pullara won the ensuing face-off, dished the ball to Spittle, and Spittle found Ranck for the score just seven seconds later to give Wooster a 6-2 cushion.

Wooster wasn't able to add to its lead during a scoreless third quarter, thanks in large part to Aurora goalkeeper Adam Holka, who made six saves during the period. More goals did come in the fourth quarter, though, as the Scots added insurance with Ranck and Suliman completing their hat tricks, and last year's scoring-leader Pullara recording his first goal of the season.

Overall, the Scots led convincingly in all key statistical categories, including shot attempts (41-8), ground balls (44-18), and face-offs won (9-5).

Ranck and Suliman paced Wooster with three goals apiece, and Ranck added an assist as well. Spittle (1 goal, 2 assists) Pullara (1 goal, 1 assist), and Schlick (1 goal) rounded out the Scots' stat leaders. In goal, Jake Kubasta made four saves in a winning effort.

Aurora, who was playing the first game of its program's history today, saw goals from Bose and Zachary Olsen, and got 14 saves from 'keeper Holka.

The Scots will be back in action Mar. 13 at University of Mary Washington.