Five-Goal Fourth Quarter Flurry Leads to Another NCAC Win

Austin Taylor's third-quarter goal broke a 2-2 tie and helped lift Wooster past Kenyon.

Austin Taylor broke a 2-2 tie early in the third quarter, and The College of Wooster’s offense went on to explode for seven more second-half goals, including five in the fourth quarter alone, as the Scots topped Kenyon College 10-4 Wednesday in an important North Coast Athletic Conference men’s lacrosse contest.

The win keeps Wooster (6-3, 3-1 NCAC) in a tie for first-place in the conference standings with Denison University (6-5, 3-1 NCAC) and Ohio Wesleyan University (5-5, 3-1 NCAC).

Kenyon’s Luke Larson tied what had been a low-scoring affair just 23 seconds into the second half, But about five minutes later, Taylor answered with an unassisted goal — his ninth of the 2004 campaign — and the Scots steadily pulled away.

Before the third quarter ended, Shawn Handy and Mike MacMaster each found the back of the net to give Wooster a commanding 5-2 lead into the final 15 minutes.

In the fourth, MacMaster scored once and assisted on another goal to complete a four-point day, as did Handy for a matching four points, while Ryan Trude had two of the Scots’ five goals that period.

Steve Burton was Wooster’s fourth multi-point scorer, finishing with one goal and one assist.

Defensively, Courter Shimeall and the rest of the Scots put up another stingy effort, as they held their fifth opponent to five goals or less. Of the Lords’ 28 shots, Shimeall was credited with eight saves.

Kenyon (4-8, 1-3 NCAC) did not have any players with multiple points.

Next, Wooster returns to non-league action with a match-up against Saint Vincent College (8-2) in Latrobe, Pa., Saturday (April 24) at 2 p.m.