Shaun Peirce

Wesley Wagner

A strong start and a strong finish was enough to push The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team past Whittier College 17-11 on Thursday.

Whittier, who set their program's single season record for wins in their last game out, suffered their second loss to drop to 13-2. Wooster improves to 4-8 in their final non-conference game of the season.

Shaun Peirce scored five goals to lead the Scots, while Ronan Dooney did the same for the Poets. Wooster also received a four-goal performance from Drake Nickolaison and two goals each from Ted Wells and Cooper Pewitt.

Pewitt started the scoring Thursday just 1:18 into the contest in a period that Wooster dominated 7-2. Whittier scored its first goal a man up with 11:40 left in the first, but Wooster answered with a man up goal of their own from Ted Wells.

Joe Citera then promptly won the faceoff, ran right down the field and scored six seconds later unassisted.

Peirce scored his first two goals with 2:23 remaining in the first quarter.

Whittier held the edge with a 4-1 second quarter and closed the gap to 8-6 at halftime. Whittier never got closer than two after Peirce scored on back-to-back goals in a span of 24 seconds.

On his second goal, he intercepted the goalie's pass right in front of the opposing net and collected the easy score.

Cullen Kuhn had a late score in the third, and Wooster led 12-9 after three quarters. They used a 5-2 fourth quarter to close out the game.

Nickolaison scored twice in the fourth. Pewitt and Zach Cunanan also scored in the quarter, as did Cole Bingham, who scored his first goal as a Scot.

Wesley Wagner made 12 saves for the win.

Wooster collected 38 groundballs, led by eight from Citera. Kuhn led the game with four assists.

Whittier was successful in 19-of-30 faceoffs but turned the ball over 32 times to Wooster's 19. Wooster also outshot the Poets 49-39.

The Scots will stay home to face Wabash College in NCAC play 1 p.m. Saturday.