Scots Score First Three Goals But Albion Comes Back for Win in Season Opener

ALBION, Mich. -- The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team started their season hot with three opening goals, but the men could not keep the momentum in an 18-16 loss to Albion College on Saturday.

First-year Charlie Ballou made an impact early on, scoring two of the first three goals including the game's opening goal in the fifth minute.

Cullen Kuhn scored his first of four goals 44 seconds later. Drake Nickolaison assisted on the first two goals, and he led the team with three assists.

Albion got two back before Nickolaison scored his lone goal of the game to conclude the period as Wooster led 4-2 after one period.

Albion kicked off the second with three straight goals to not only tie the game but take its first lead. However, Cooper Pewitt brought Wooster back midway through the quarter to tie the game at five.

It was Pewitt's first of three goals in the period. He later answered after two consecutive Albion goals to make it 7-5 and did so again to conclude the period as Wooster trailed 9-7 heading into halftime.

Albion took its biggest lead in the third period, coming out of halftime to score four straight goals to take a 13-7 lead. However, Wooster cut the deficit in half with three goals to close the period from Pewitt, Shaun Peirce and Ted Wells.

Connor Mangan made it a 13-11 game with the opening goal of the fourth period.

Albion scored the next two, but Wooster responded with the next three. Joe Citera scored his first of the year as Kuhn and Pewitt followed to cut the Albion lead to 15-14.

The teams traded goals twice from there as Kuhn scored twice. On his final tally, Wooster trailed 17-16 with 4:27 remaining.

Wooster's final push came up short as Albino scored a man-up with 2:48 left to make it 18-16.

Pewitt finished with a team-high five goals. Albion's Jace Conley scored six goals for the game-high. 

Wooster finished with 30 groundballs as Citera finished with a team-high eight ground balls. Citera also was 9-for-17 in faceoffs. Wesley Wagner made five saves in net.

Wooster was successful on 21-of-23 clearing attempts and 3-of-4 man up opportunities. The Scots outshot Albion 50-34 and had 37 shots on goal. Albion goalie Trevor McManus made 18 saves.

Albion got the better of the Scots for the second straight year as they came to Papp Stadium in 2019 and left with a 13-9 win.

Wooster won't be in action again until Feb. 28 when they look for their first win again when they travel to Otterbein University.