Scots Too Much For Otterbein

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's lacrosse team's relentless ride resulted in the Fighting Scots having at least 15 caused turnovers for the fifth time this season in Wednesday's 17-4 rout of Otterbein University.

Wooster (8-1) held Otterbein (1-8) to 3-of-12 on clears in the first half and a 10-of-23 mark for the game. Junior Bella Woodbury emerged at the forefront of the defensive pressure with a game-high five caused turnovers. The causing havoc started early for Woodbury, who forced Kate Schimmel out of bounds in transition in the game's first two minutes. Next, Otterbein's Emily Williams could not elude Woodbury with 5:57 left in the first, and the junior was already at three caused turnovers for the game come the opening minutes of the second quarter.

Offensively, senior Kaitlyn McBride netted an early hat trick against her hometown college. The midfielder scored two of the game's first three goals and hit the hat trick mark with 3:39 remaining in the first. Classmate Madelyn Noll was the early distributor, passing out assists on the Fighting Scots' first two goals of the game.

Overall, Wooster opened with a 7-0 run. Junior Lizzie Hardy capped the stretch with a free-position goal in the final 35 seconds of the opening quarter. That marked the junior midfielder's second of three goals in the contest.

Four Scots had at least four points in the win. Woodbury supplemented the five caused turnovers with co-high honors in points at five. Her four goals led the team, and she had four groundballs and an assist on the midweek stat sheet. McBride joined Woodbury with five points, thanks to two assists to pair with the first-quarter hat trick. Hardy and junior Sophia Mellis were the others with four points. Mellis' came on two goals and two assists.

Otterbein had 26 turnovers overall. Hardy, Noll, and senior Lexi Sarne followed Woodbury with two caused turnovers. With the turnover difference, Wooster enjoyed a 27-10 edge in groundballs. Woodbury's four were followed by three from both first-year Mizan Jacobs and junior Sidney O'Rourke.

Elsewhere, Hardy had nine of Wooster's 15 draw controls and sophomore Audrey Richardson made two saves.

Otterbein's Alyssa Glenn and Ava Robey scored two goals each. Maggie Nance stopped 15 Wooster shots.

Wooster nearly quadrupled Otterbein's 11 shots with 42 and almost doubled up the Cardinals with 15 draw controls to the guests' eight. Wooster was 16-of-17 on clear attempts.

Next, Wooster is at Illinois Wesleyan University (5-5) on Saturday, March 29. Opening draw is at noon ET/11 a.m. CT.