Wooster Doubles Up Washington & Jefferson, 16-8

WOOSTER, Ohio – Scoring runs by seniors Kenzie Morris and Kaitlyn McBride gave The College of Wooster women's lacrosse team comfortable cushions in Wednesday's 16-8 home-opening win over Washington & Jefferson College at John P. Papp Stadium.

Washington & Jefferson (0-1) was within 12-8 before McBride took control in the fourth period. Wooster's (2-0) senior drove to the goal for her third score of the game, which came with 8:51 remaining. Prior to the goal, sophomore Audrey Richardson denied a Washington & Jefferson Shelby Blandford free-position shot for save five of the night.

Junior Lizzie Hardy kept possession with Wooster following McBride putting Wooster up by five with one of her tri-game-high five draw controls. A Wooster turnover in the offensive end was quickly erased by McBride, who knocked the ball away from Caleigh Bogats, collected the groundball, and later put Wooster up 14-8 with 7:42 remaining.

First-year Mizan Jacobs tacked on two insurance goals late. The first was a rebound goal after the initial Wooster shot was saved by Washington & Jefferson's Megan Brackney. The second came when Morris found a cutting Jacobs inside the eight-meter and marked the seventh point for Morris on the night.

Earlier, Morris scored three consecutive second-period goals to open Wooster's 7-3 lead. The senior helped her cause on the first goal of the sequence with a draw control, and the next action play was the score. Wooster's electric trio of Hardy, Morris, and junior Sidney O'Rourke each had five draw controls on the night for the Fighting Scots, and coincidentally each had one prior to a Morris second-period goal. Wooster's run reached 5-0 in the second, with Jacobs and McBride following up Morris' period hat trick.

Senior Madelyn Noll tied Wednesday's non-conference clash at one at the first period's 13:08 mark, then Morris found junior Brynne Snaguski for a score with 12:01 on the clock.

Washington & Jefferson struggled all night against Wooster's ride, clearing just 12-of-26 attempts. One of the 14 failed clears came before Snaguski's second goal of the night. Morris got to Bogats in transition for one of three caused turnovers, and McBride was right there for the groundball. Next, McBride followed up her own miss to make it 4-1, as Brackney was unable to maintain control on the save.

Morris' seven points came on four assists and three goals. She was one of two Scots with three caused turnovers on the night. McBride's four goals led all players, while Jacobs and junior Bella Woodbury each scored three times. Groundballs often came from Wooster's forwards and midfielders, evidenced by McBride (six), Woodbury (four), and Hardy (three) finishing among the team's leaders. Hardy added three caused turnovers, while O'Rourke rounded out the Scots with at least three groundballs.

Bogats had a strong game for Washington & Jefferson with three goals and four draw controls. Brackney ended the night with eight saves.

Wooster had 30 shots to 18 for Washington & Jefferson. The relatively clean game had just 19 fouls called, but the teams did combine for 54 turnovers.

Next, Wooster hosts Hope College (0-0) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 1.