Scots Hosting Otterbein Thursday, Traveling to JCU Saturday

Nick Waychoff

Having played two of its three matches this season against teams from the Ohio Athletic Conference, The College of Wooster men’s soccer team will continue that trend this week, matching-up against two more out of that league. First, in a change from the original 2007 schedule, Wooster will host Otterbein College (3-1) on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 5 p.m. Previously, the Fighting Scots were going to play at Otterbein Wednesday, however, the field conditions at the Cardinals’ home facility are currently unplayable. Two nights later, Saturday, Sept. 15, Wooster will be at fellow northeast Ohio foe John Carroll University (2-3) for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Scots edged Otterbein 2-1 and John Carroll 1-0 last year to improve to 6-1-1 and 9-9-1 in the all-time series, respectively.

Last Week: Wooster played just once, prevailing in a non-league affair to move to 1-2 on the young season.

On Sept. 8, the Scots took a 2-0 lead before allowing an own goal late in the second half, which added up to a 2-1 victory during a physical contest with host Marietta College. The lone score of the first half came courtesy of junior Nick Waychoff (Cleveland Hts., Ohio / Cleveland Heights) after he received a pass through the defense from senior Warren Swegal (Sewickley, Pa. / Quaker Valley). It marked Waychoff’s fifth career goal and Swegal’s first assist. A little more than 10 minutes into the second, Wooster gained the two-goal cushion via a Karl Ruter (Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South) free kick, as the sophomore midfielder directed the shot over Marietta’s wall and inside the left post. During the 88th minute of play, the ball came into the Scots’ box off of a free kick by Marietta, and it was eventually deflected in by a Wooster defender. The own goal ended up being harmless, though, as the Pioneers didn’t threaten to score again.