Fletcher Nets Hat Trick Against Mount Union

WOOSTER, Ohio – Junior Max Fletcher and senior Tyler Schroeder were among The College of Wooster men's lacrosse players who delivered breakthrough performances in Friday evening's 11-8 loss against University of Mount Union at John P. Papp Stadium.

Wooster (3-5) had a better than, or equal to, showing in every key statistical category except for goals against Mount Union (6-3). The Purple Raiders' Alek Kungle lit up the scoreboard with six goals and Kyle Reihner was brilliant in goal with 20 saves, including back-to-back stops on a one-on-one chance in the third period.

Fletcher, who scored his first collegiate goal in Wooster's 17-4 win over Hiram College last Saturday, scored three on the night. The final one came with 3:23 remaining in the fourth, when the midfielder spun around and got a step on his Purple Raider defender. The environmental geoscience major's tally made it a 10-8 game, but Mount Union's Mark Zusman all-but-sealed the game with 1:23 left, as his score bumped the lead back to three.

Sophomore Jimmy Fisher scooped up a co-team-high six groundballs as part of a 15-of-23 showing on faceoffs, and he had just as much success knocking the ball toward the wings. There, Schroeder dominated his matchup en route to finishing with a career-high six groundballs.

Wooster did carry a 5-4 lead into halftime on the strength of first-year Will Fink's fifth goal of the season that came with :42 left in the second period. Mount Union took the lead for good on Kungle's player-up goal with 7:38 remaining in the third. That score came as part of the Purple Raiders' half-opening 6-1 run.

Defensively, sophomore Casey Steffen's four caused turnovers were one off a career-high, while classmate Seth Owens matched his collegiate-best with two. Sophomore Paul Chandler made 13 saves.

Other leaders for Mount Union included Aaron Czech with three caused turnovers and Reihner, who used his athleticism to cause a turnover and scoop up three groundballs.

Wooster led 42-38 on shots, 34-24 on groundballs, 15-8 on faceoffs, and were 18-of-19 on clears to Mount Union's 24-of-30.

Next, Wooster (1-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) hosts DePauw University (1-7, 0-1 NCAC).