WOOSTER, Ohio – Maggie Kehm scored minutes before halftime, and The College of Wooster just missed on several other solid looks in the second half, until Paige Piper added a late goal, giving the Fighting Scots a 2-0 win over archrival Wittenberg University, and their first North Coast Athletic Conference championship since 1996.
With less than three minutes remaining before the break, Liz Mott was working to get a shot off in the goal box, when she collided with Wittenberg's (13-4-1, 5-2-0 NCAC) goalkeeper, Melissa Gartner, causing the ball to pop loose towards the right side. Kehm was in the right spot at the right time, as she collected the ball and blasted it into the back of the net to give Wooster (11-6-1, 5-1-1 NCAC) a 1-0 lead.
Prior to the goal, it was Piper who provided Wooster's best shot opportunity of the half, as she beat her defender while running horizontally across the goal box, but couldn't quite center her body up on the shot attempt, as she misfired just wide. Wittenberg had a good look when it sent a header into the box, and Allie Keefer one-touched a shot at Michele Ring who made the save.
The Scots outshot Wittenberg 7-2 in the second half, but struggled to find the insurance goal they needed despite several solid opportunities. The most notable attempt came when Mott got loose around midfield and began streaking towards the goalkeeper, and it appeared the defense wouldn't be able to track her down. The goalkeeper came out to challenge, but Mott put a move on her and began winding up to shoot at the open net, when Wittenberg's Lauren McMahon finished an impressive hustle play by catching Mott and clearing her attempt.
Wittenberg's Maggie Amorello gave Wooster a scare when she fired off a shot with 1:54 remaining in regulation, but Ring made a difficult save, leaping into the air and punching the shot over the crossbar to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
In a last ditch attempt to tally a game-tying goal, Wittenberg brought their 'keeper out to midfield to add an extra potential scorer. The plan backfired, as Wooster fed the ball to Piper who got past the goalie and ran all the way down field to tap in the final dagger.
With the win, Wooster has also clinched the No. 1 seed in the NCAC Tournament. It will host a semifinal match Wednesday against Allegheny College (14-1-3, 4-1-2 NCAC) at 2 p.m.