Game Swings Adrian’s Way in Final Minutes, as Scots Fall 15-14

The College of Wooster's men's lacrosse team was in position to win its eighth-straight game, but Adrian College closed on a 4-0 scoring run to spoil the Fighting Scots' impressive streak, 15-14, in non-conference action Wednesday evening at Adrian, Mich.

Wooster (7-2), which hasn't lost since its season-opener at Washington and Lee University, was in the driver's seat late against the reigning Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions, but Adrian (5-2) made its move in crunch time.

Tom Herold and Pat Henderson scored early in the fourth quarter to give Wooster a three-goal lead, 14-11, with 12:49 remaining in regulation. Adrian trimmed its deficit to two at the 10:41 mark, and then moments later, another Bulldog tally drew the teams within one (14-13) about midway through the stanza.

Wooster dominated possession from that point, firing off three shot attempts over the next six minutes, including two that required a save, but the Scots weren't able net the insurance goal they were searching for.

Adrian's ability to bend but not break was critical, because with 2:14 to go, it scored an equalizer to knot the score 14-14. The Bulldogs won the ensuing faceoff, and then just 33 seconds later, they scored again, which held up as the game-winner despite a decent look from Matt Parmelee that sailed wide.

It was a game of swings, as Wooster trailed 3-1 early, only to score the game's next six goals to gain a 7-3 advantage late in the second half. Adrian eventually made its own run to tie the game at 8-8 in the third, before Wooster built its 14-11 cushion in the fourth.

Wooster dominated in the faceoff circle, with Max Rubin winning 20-of-29 attempts, while brothers Tom Herold (2 goals, 4 assists) and Josh Herold (4 goals) paced the high-scoring Scot attack.

On the defensive side, Wooster caused 11 turnovers, with defensive-minded midfielder PJ Dallman prying away two, to go along with his five groundballs. Rubin scooped up 11 groundballs and Sean Hohan chipped in seven.

Goalkeeper Ben Grombala made 10 saves in the setback, marking his fourth double-digit save performance of the season.

Wooster will look to start a new streak when it plays at Oberlin College (3-5, 0-2 NCAC) on Saturday at 1 p.m.