Fighting Scots Edged by Tigers, 12-11, in Back-and-Forth Battle Between Rivals

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster and Wittenberg University stayed within two goals of each other for all 60 minutes of another classic between the two archrivals, but a score by the Tigers' Andrew Fuss with 2:00 remaining held up as the winner in a 12-11 North Coast Athletic Conference men's lacrosse game Saturday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.

Wooster (8-5, 3-3 NCAC) had tied it twice during the fourth quarter, 10-10 and 11-11, on Ian Brim and Tom Herold goals, respectively, and after Fuss's score, it appeared that the Fighting Scots knotted things up again. With a little over a minute left, Nate Weltman fired a shot and the ball rolled behind the goalie, however, the official ruled that it did not completely cross the goal line before Wittenberg's (7-5, 5-2 NCAC) Jay Dolan picked it up.

After Tyler LaCroix, who tallied 17 saves in his first full game as the starting 'keeper for Wooster, intercepted a pass, the Scots had one more quality look at a tying goal, but their shot in transition with about :30 on the clock went wide.

The Tigers outscored the home team 3-1 during the first period, then Wooster dominated play for much of the second, starting with three goals the opening 3:36 of the quarter to take the lead. Wittenberg briefly halted the run and tied it at four, followed by Josh Herold and Pat Henderson unassisted tallies 25 seconds apart that gave the Scots their biggest advantage at 6-4.

Right before halftime, Wittenberg pulled within one on the third Andrew Fuss-to-Thomas Fuss connection of the day, and the Tigers carried that momentum into the third as they accounted for the first two goals of that quarter to retake the lead (7-6).

Wooster's own brother combination helped even the scoreboard. Josh Herold and Tom Herold each found the back of the net, sandwiched around a Wittenberg goal, resulting in an 8-8 tie. The final two minutes of the third featured four goals, as the Tigers built a two-goal advantage and then Henderson beat the buzzer to make it 10-9, setting up an exciting last 15 minutes.

Statistically, Tom Herold accumulated six points coming on three goals and three assists, while Henderson also had a hat trick. Josh Herold contributed a three-point game via one goal and two helpers and Matt Parmelee registered multiple points with one goal and one assist.

LaCroix stood out with several tough stops among his 17 saves. 

Andrew Fuss paced Wittenberg with seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) and Thomas Fuss recorded a game-high four goals plus one assist.

Wooster will play its final non-league contest of the year on Wednesday night at Albion College (7-4).