Michaela Lawrence

The College of Wooster kept pace with North Coast Athletic Conference preseason favorite Denison University for most of the first half, but the Big Red broke a 3-3 tie with a three-goal spurt and carried that momentum into the second en route to a 14-7 triumph Wednesday night at Piper Stadium in Granville, Ohio.

The match-up was an evenly-played defensive battle during the opening 25 minutes, then the complexion quickly changed as Denison (6-5, 3-0 NCAC) scored three times the last 4:38 before the halftime break, including one goal with just :03 on the clock.

The Big Red also netted one :38 into the second half and four more in a row to extend their run to 8-0 before Wooster (8-4, 2-3 NCAC) got back on the scoreboard on a Michaela Lawrence free-position shot.

The Fighting Scots finished strong, outscoring their hosts over the last 15 minutes, but it was not enough.

Overall, the difference in the game may have been efficiency on free-position attempts. Wooster had nine opportunities, but only converted three, while Denison was 4-for-5.

Abby Szlachta recorded a hat trick, Ellie Hudson-Heck added three points on one goal and two assists, and Lawrence tallied a pair of goals to pace the Scots' offense. Hudson-Heck was also active in other areas with three caused turnovers, three draw controls, and six groundballs – all team highs.

Defensively, Isabel Perman had her third consecutive game with double-digit saves, this time making 10.

Wooster dips back into non-league play next with a visit to Franciscan University (6-3) on Tuesday.