WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster field hockey team applied pressure on Denison University late, but could not score the equalizer in Wednesday afternoon's 1-0 setback at John P. Papp Stadium.

Denison (2-2, 1-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) got its goal in the conference lid-lifter from Helen Breen in the 43rd minute. The Big Red sophomore buried a shot from the top of the wing into the right corner of the cage. Grace Lock assisted on the goal after receiving a penalty corner insert from Kate Hinshaw.

In the fourth, Wooster (1-1, 0-1 NCAC) tried to take advantage of a two-player advantage. Wooster earned a pair of penalty corners in the 55th minute. A shot from senior Olivia Nengel was initially blocked by a Denison defender en route to the cage, and then saved by Big Red 'keeper Athena Joannou. Later, Lock ultimately denied Wooster from getting a shot off while Big Red teammates rallied to a developing 1-on-1-plus-'keeper situation, and the Big Red defender cleared the ball outside the circle.

Wooster's best scoring chances came in the opening minutes. A shot by sophomore Mary Johnson was stopped by Joannou in the fourth minute, then the Scots' forward sent the rebound attempt over the cage. Wooster sophomore goalie Cate Barkdoll was tested less than a minute later and denied Denison's Kristin Kelley.

Two Wooster shots were stopped by Joannou in the second period, and a Denison play was quickly waved off when a shot from outside the circle went into the cage. Denison had a chance less than a minute later, but Barkdoll knocked a ball away that came into prime scoring real estate from outside the circle. In the third, Nengel provided the key defense, chipping a crossing pass away to outside the circle.

Shots were at a premium in the game, with Denison finishing with a 6-5 lead. The Big Red did have seven corners to the Scots' four and finished with a 4-2 lead on saves.

Next, Wooster plays at Sweet Briar College (2-2) at noon on Saturday, September 16.