No. 18 Scots Travel to Case, Then Host OWU in Battle of Ranked Teams

For The Week Of:
September 23, 2006

Written by Hugh Howard
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Tim Presto

The College of Wooster menês soccer team, which entered this weekês NCAA Div. III top-25 coachesê poll for the first time this season at No. 18, looks to extend its perfect start (7-0) to 2006. First, the Fighting Scots travel to fellow unbeaten Case Western Reserve University (7-0-1) on Tuesday, Sept. 26, for a non-conference match-up at 7:30 p.m. Wooster holds a commanding 19-2-4 all-time record against Case, including blanking the Spartans 2-0 at Wooster during the 2005 season. Then, the Scots will be home Saturday, Sept. 30, for a battle with No. 3 ranked and traditional North Coast Athletic Conference power Ohio Wesleyan University (7-0, 1-0 NCAC) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday will mark the 46th meeting between the two squads, with Ohio Wesleyan ahead 28-11-6 in the series. Last fall, the Bishops prevailed 2-0 in Delaware, Ohio.

Last Week: Wooster is currently 7-0 on the season for the first time since 1986 after winning both of its contests last week. The Scotsê last three matches have been won by a 1-0 score, and all of their victories this season have come by a one-goal margin.
On Sept. 20, Wooster slipped past host Muskingum College 1-0 when Karl Ruter (Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South) scored the gameês lone goal in the 53rd minute. The freshman midfielder took a shot from inside the box that glanced off the left post and then into the net for his third goal of the season. Muskingum outshot the Scots 20-9, but junior goalie Erik Larson (El Paso, Texas / Stony Point) stepped up with seven saves in securing the win.
On Sept. 23, the Scots were at Earlham College and knocked off the Quakers 1-0 in the first match of the 2006 NCAC season. Sophomore transfer Steve Fracasso (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) notched his team-leading fourth goal via an assist from Tim Presto (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) in the 58th minute, propelling Wooster to the victory. Presto also played a key role on a defense that rolled to its third consecutive shutout, extending the oppositionês scoreless streak to 328:12. Larson, who notched his fourth shutout of the season, made eight saves.