WOOSTER, Ohio – Following back-to-back scores by Ohio WesleyanOhio Wesleyan University that tied the game 4-4, The College of Wooster women's lacrosse team responded with eight unanswered goals to take a commanding lead it would not relinquish, leading to a 14-9 win on Wednesday in North Coast Athletic Conference action at Carl Dale Field.
The Scots (5-2, 3-0 NCAC) were aggressive at the onset, as their leading goal-scorer Becca Worthington beat the keeper just 1:56 into the action, and minutes later Nina Dine and Worthington added two more goals to give Wooster a 3-1 lead. The Bishops (6-4, 0-3 NCAC) got right back into things, though, by putting together a 3-1 run that culminated in a Jessica Copeland score which knotted the game 4-4 with 11:31 remaining in the opening stanza.
Just 30 seconds later Nina Dine made an explosive move towards the goal and buried a shot into the net that regained Wooster's lead and sparked an 8-0 scoring run that carried on into the second half.
During the run, Dine notched a hat trick with her third goal, and Clare Nelson-Johnson was lights out, scoring four times over a 13-minute span. Amy Denny and Emily Meyer also chipped in goals, and the Scots led 12-4 with just under 25 minutes remaining in the game.
The Bishops outscored Wooster 5-2 to close out the action, as the Scots slowed down the attack, taking just 12 shots compared to 20 in the first half. Ohio Wesleyan earned four free-position shots in the second half of the game, and eight overall, but converted just three into goals.
Nelson-Johnson led Wooster with a career-high five goals, brining her season total to 13. Dine recorded four goals in a solid offensive outing, and Worthington scored twice and added three assists. Shawna Ferris totaled nine saves in goal, as did her counterpart Lauren Figy.
For Ohio Wesleyan, the NCAC's leading scorer Copeland led the way with a hat trick, and Meredith Wholley was next in line with a pair of goals.
Wooster will play back-to-back road games this weekend, first visiting Carthage College (2-8) on Saturday at 1 p.m., and then traveling to Trine University (6-2) on Sunday for a 2 p.m. start.