Senior Ashley Boersma tied the 2021 North Coast Athletic Conference Championship game at 13 with :29 left, as The College of Wooster rallied back from a 13-9 deficit. However, the Fighting Scots lost in devasting heartbreak fashion, as ninth-ranked Denison University's Liza Farnham netted the game-winner as time expired to lift the Big Red to a 14-13 win on Saturday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.

Wooster (8-2) senior Miura Wiley tracked down the draw control following Boersma's game-tying goal and was unable to work a pass to senior attacker Alexa Mellis. Denison's (9-1) Grace Hudson intercepted the pass and found Farnham 60 yards shy of the goal with about 10 seconds left. Farnham sprinted down the field, worked her way past a Wooster defender, and cut inside another before depositing the championship-winner into the net from about five yards out as time expired.

Senior Ashley Boersma tied the NCAC Championship game at 13 with this goal with :29 remaining. Photo by Matt Dilyard.

The Scots were in need of a big spark in the final two minutes, and sophomore Hannah Shaw delivered just that. An entry pass to a Denison cutter inside the eight-meter didn't connect, and the Scots' speedster chased down the loose ball in the corner. Next, a quick transition effort, spearheaded by sophomore Clare Leithauser, primed the Scots with a golden opportunity. Mellis had a couple steps on the Big Red's back line, enabling sophomore Jill Murray to chalk up an easy assist. Mellis just had the 'keeper to beat upon receiving the pass, and she did so with 1:11 left, pulling Wooster within 13-12.

Wiley won the ensuing draw control, which eventually led to Boersma's game-tying goal.

Boersma was also on the front end of Wooster's second-half rally, with the neuroscience major converting a free-position try with 10:42 remaining, and that goal made it a 13-10 game.

Wooster got off to a strong start, as Denison had five turnovers in the first seven minutes, plus senior 'keeper Katie Shideler saved a pair of Big Red free-position tries. The Big Red's miscues continued, with seven total turnovers in the opening 9:46, including one that was caused by Shaw. Denison's slow start enabled Wooster to jump out to a 2-0 lead, when Wiley buried a free-position goal at the 20:00 mark.

Denison, which entered the game with the 10th-highest scoring offense in NCAA Div. III, had just seven scores at halftime, with Wooster remaining in striking distance. Murray connected on her 25th goal of the year with 3:05 to go in the first half, and that pulled the Scots within 7-5.

Mellis scored four goals, upping her career haul to 145, the 10th-most all-time in program history. Boersma had a four-point afternoon with three goals and an assist, and the Scots logged helpers on six of 10 non-free position goals.

Factoring heavily into the contest was Shaw, who had a game-high seven groundballs, a game-leading four caused turnovers, and a team-best six draw controls. Shideler finished with 14 saves, with seven coming in each half. Of note, Shaw's season haul of 70 draw controls is tied for the fourth-most in program history, while Shideler surpassed 400 career saves on Saturday. Shideler's the sixth Scot all-time with over 400 career saves, and the first since alumna Shawna Ferris (2010-13).

Molly Fischer's four goals led Denison, while Charlotte Godrey came away with nine draws and two groundballs. Caroline O'Dea, the MVP of the game, made nine saves, six of which came in the second half.

Wooster won the groundball battle, 25-17, and shots were even at 34 apiece. Wooster did better when it came to ball control with 19 turnovers to Denison's 21, and the Big Red edged out the Scots on draw controls 16-12.