Similar Blueprint For Success Leads to Another Win as Scots Ride 5-0 Third-Period Run to 14-8 Victory Over Cardinals

The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team continued to make the third period its signature stanza as a 5-0 quarter by the Fighting Scots proved to be the separation point during Wednesday night's 14-8 win over Otterbein University at Memorial Stadium in Westerville, Ohio.

In fact, Wooster's (2-0) five-goal third period was part of a larger 7-0 run that started when senior Alexander Bloom pumped in his first goal of the season off a helper by classmate Aidan Crowe with 6:09 to go in the opening half. Just before halftime, first-year Shaun Perice, who scored his first collegiate goal earlier in the second period, snuck one in past Otterbein (0-2) 'keeper Matt Niemi to tie the score at five.

Crowe started the third-period offensive fireworks with a goal less than two minutes into the stanza that was set up by an assist from senior Sam Kuhn. Similar to Sunday's season-opening win against Albion College, the Kuhn brothers factored heavily into the third-period scoring spree. Sophomore Cullen Kuhn netted a hat trick in the quarter, and on the night, the midfielder scored a game-high four goals. Sam Kuhn, who assisted on his younger brother's second goal of the frame, bumped the lead out to five with :56 to go in the stanza.

Notable, Wooster's now outscored the opposition 11-1 in the third period on the young season.

In the fourth period, the elder Kuhn again padded the lead out to five with his team-leading seventh goal of the year with 9:17 remaining. Later in the stanza, sophomore Noah Plotkin etched his name in the scoring column for the first time as a Fighting Scot as the defender extended the Black and Gold's lead to seven with 5:28 to go.

Wooster took charge in the faceoff department, winning 14-of-24 on the night, including a perfect 5-for-5 showing in the second period. That proved to be a key facet of the game as the Scots accounted for four goals on possessions immediately following faceoff wins, including one within :20 of scooping up the groundball.

Speaking of groundballs, the Scots controlled that stat too, as Wooster finished with a plus-eight advantage over Otterbein. Individually, first-year Connor Managan scooped up six on the night.

Other stats to note include six total points by Sam Kuhn on three goals and three assists, and eight saves by sophomore Wesleyan Wagner.

Otterbein was led by two goals and two assists from Joe Sanfillipo.

Next, Wooster takes on John Carroll University (1-0) on Saturday, March 3 at 1 p.m. at John P. Papp Stadium.