Denison Hands Scots First NCAC Loss of 2005, Despite 13 Saves by Shimeall

Shawn Handy was Wooster's leading scorer again with a pair of unassisted goals.

Denison University scored five unanswered goals from midway through the second quarter to midway through the third, taking a 7-2 lead on The College of Wooster in the key North Coast Athletic Conference men’s lacrosse contest Wednesday night, and the Big Red went on to prevail 9-4 under the lights in Granville, Ohio.

Denison, which lost to Ohio Wesleyan University earlier in the season (14-13), keeps its hopes alive for the 2005 NCAC championship with a 1-1 league record, while Wooster (3-5, 1-1 NCAC) will likely have to win out, including a match-up with Ohio Wesleyan on April 26, in order to share the crown just like the trio did last year.

On Wednesday, the Scots tied it 2-2 with back-to-back goals early in the second period from sophomores Ben Abbott and Erik Shoemaker. It marked both players second goal of the season.

That was as close as Wooster would be, though, as the Big Red combined to outshoot the Scots 21-7 during the second and third quarters. Wooster goalie Courter Shimeall produced saves on nine of those attempts, but Denison got the ball past him and into the net five times during that stretch.

The Scots were able to stop the run with 24 seconds remaining in the third, when Shawn Handy connected for his 13th goal of the year to pull his squad within striking distance at 7-3.

The Big Red scored first in the fourth quarter and later had an answer after another Handy goal around the 10-minute mark.

Shimeall ended up with 13 saves.

Denison was led by Chris Boehl and Craig Pastor, who each finished with two goals and one assist, while its goalkeeper, Alex Baruch, came up with nine saves on 17 Wooster shots.

The Scots will have to quickly regroup, as they welcome Washington & Jefferson College (0-7) to the friendly confines of John P. Papp Stadium Thursday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.