Shaun Peirce

Drake Nickolaison

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Led by a five-goal performance from junior Shaun Peirce, The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team picked up their first win on Friday with a decisive 17-3 victory over Otterbein University.

Otterbein, who defeated the Scots last year in Wooster 14-8, entered at 2-0 with wins over Wittenberg University and Albion College. Albion defeated Wooster in the season opener 18-16.

The offense did not miss a beat on Friday, opening the game with a goal in the first 20 seconds as Drake Nickolaison put the Scots on the board early. Otterbein tied it minutes later, but Wooster responded with three more goals in the first from Peirce, Connor Mangan and Charlie Ballou to take a 4-1 lead after the first period.

The Scots seized control in the second as they scored six unanswered goals to take a commanding 10-1 lead. Peirce scored three of his goals in the period. Nickolaison made it a 6-1 lead in a man-up situation, while Cooper Pewitt scored the two other goals in the period.

A late goal from the Cardinals gave Wooster a 10-2 lead at halftime.

In the third, the scoring died down. Otterbein scored early in the period, and Wooster scored in another man-up situation as Ted Wells scored off an assist from Cullen Kuhn.

In the fourth, it was all Wooster with a 6-0 period. Pewitt, Peirce and Nickolaison all scored in the period as did Brad Root, Joe Citera and Dillon Chipman. It was Root's first collegiate goal, Chipman's second and Citera's fourth.

Kuhn led the team with five assists. Mangan added three and Peirce recorded two.

Wesley Wagner picked up the win in the net. He made 10 saves. First-year Adam Meyer saw his first action in goal for the final 1:42.

Ollie Jimba won nine faceoffs, while the Scots were 10-of-22 for the game in faceoffs.

Wooster collected 22 groundballs to Otterbein's 20. Wooster completed 17-of-20 clear attempts and was 3-for-3 in man-up opportunities. The Scots also finished with 53 shots.

Wooster returns to action Wednesday when they host Capital University in their home opener.