Simmons’ Late Goal Lifts Wooster Past Widener

Senior midfielder Cole Simmons scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 3:29 left in the fourth quarter to lead The College of Wooster men’s lacrosse team Sunday to a 7-6 non-conference victory over Widener University in Chester, Pa. The Fighting Scots begin their season 3-0 for the second-straight year, while the Pride fall to 1-2.

Wooster recorded the only goal of the first period on a score by junior Chris Gatsch with 1:42 remaining. After Simmons netted his first score of the game at 9:49 of the second stanza, pushing the visitor’s advantage to 2-0, the Pride knotted the game on two goals by Clint Quedenfeld.

In the third period, Wooster narrowly edged Widener in the scoring column (4-3) with goals from Matt Pullara, Mark Weschler, Simmons, and Gatsch, making the score 6-5 in favor of the Scots headed into the final fifteen minutes of action.

For nearly 10 minutes of the final stanza, the two teams traded offensive possessions and scoring attempts, before Quedenfeld recorded his fourth goal of the game for the Pride, and tied the score (7-7) with 5:17 left to play.

With time winding down to the final minutes of regulation, Pat Coyne and Simmons connected on what amounted to the game-winning goal, moving the Scots to 2-0 in the all-time series against the Pride.

Simmons led the way with four points on three goals and one assist, while Gatsch finished with two goals and a helper. Coyne was the top assist-man for Wooster with two assists, while Weschler tacked on an assist to go with his lone goal.

Quedenfeld paced the hosts with his four goals, while Andrew Janusz and Justin Upp threw in the other two Widener goals.

Next up for the Scots is a visit to Baltimore, Md., on Wednesday, March 12, to battle Goucher College (3-0) at 4:30 p.m.