Defense of NCAC Championship Begins Saturday for Wooster

Amanda Artman

After splitting a pair of non-league games to open 2007, The College of Wooster will get right into North Coast Athletic Conference action this Saturday, Sept. 8. That afternoon, the Scots are scheduled to be at Ohio Wesleyan University (1-1, 0-0 NCAC) for a 4:30 p.m. match-up. Wooster is the defending NCAC champion, having marched through the league undefeated (12-0) last year, while Ohio Wesleyan took sixth-place (3-9). The Scots have shutout the Battling Bishops each of their last six meetings, but needed overtime to edge them 1-0 on the road last year. Overall, Wooster is 38-20-5 all-time against Ohio Wesleyan.

Last Week: The Scots kicked off the 2007 campaign with a road trip to Maryland and Kentucky, and came back home with a 1-1 record.

On Sept. 1, Wooster rattled the cage twice early in the second half and hung on for a 2-1 victory at Frostburg State University. The first meeting between the squads since 1987 was scoreless during the first half. Then, the Scots’ returning All-American, Amanda Artman (Shaker Hts., Ohio / Shaker Heights), got things going offensively with a goal 5:27 into the second, assisted by Brittany Montgomery (Glens Falls, N.Y. / Glens Falls). Maggie Donnelly (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) followed that up with a score 5:38 later, marking the freshman’s first collegiate goal. Artman had the assist on that tally. Trailing 2-0, Frostburg State attempted to rally, recording a goal of its own just 3:39 after Donnelly’s, but Wooster’s defense made the lead hold up the final 20:16. The Scots used a pair of goalies, with sophomore Izzy Maffetone (Setauket, N.Y. / Ward Melville) working the first half and freshman Abby Peters (Cincinnati, Ohio / St. Ursula Academy) handling the second. They finished with three saves apiece on 13 total shots from the Bobcats.

On Sept. 2, Wooster fell to host Centre College 2-0. The match-up was evenly played, with Centre holding a slight 7-6 edge in the shot department, but the Scots ended up losing by two. The Colonels scored both of their goals in the first half on tip-ins in front of the cage.