Scots Aim to Extend Win Streak at Case, Wittenberg

Karl Ruter

Owners of a five-match winning streak, The College of Wooster men’s soccer squad faces a challenging week ahead with road games at two of the top NCAA Div. III Great Lakes Region teams, according to the most recent coaches’ poll. First, the Fighting Scots will be in Cleveland, Ohio, where they’ll face undefeated Case Western Reserve University (7-0), which is ranked atop the Great Lakes and No. 2 in the nation, on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Wooster resumes North Coast Athletic Conference play Saturday, Sept. 29, when it takes on Wittenberg University (6-2-1, 1-0-0 NCAC), currently rated fourth in the region. That match also is slated for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Historically, the Scots hold winning records against both Case and Wittenberg, having gone 19-3-4 and 21-8-2 against them, respectively. Last season, the Spartans edged then-18th-ranked Wooster 1-0 in double overtime and the Scots shut down the Tigers 2-0.

Last Week: Wooster picked up two more victories, extending its win streak to five and improving to 5-2 overall.

On Sept. 19, Karl Ruter (Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South) scored two goals, including one 2:10 into overtime, to lift the Scots to a 2-1 win over Muskingum College during non-conference action at Carl Dale Memorial Field. Wooster gained the early lead when Ruter and company took advantage of a failed clear by the Muskingum defense, as he sent a shot in, assisted by Trevor Day (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth), during the ninth minute. The Scots possessed the ball for much of the opening half, however, the Muskies were still able to tie it 1-1 right before intermission. Both squads had several near-misses during the second half, and then early in the first extra session, Wooster forced an indirect kick opportunity right outside the box after Muskingum was whistled for a foul on a breakaway. Ruter blasted the ball around the Muskies’ wall and inside the left post, marking his fifth goal of the season and third on a free kick. Defensively, the Scots continued to alternate goalkeepers, with Jordan O’Boyle (Hudson, Ohio / Western Reserve Academy) making three saves in the first half and Patryk Tenorio (Tawas City, Mich. / St. Stephen’s Episcopal – Texas) needing to stop just one over the final 47:10.

On Sept. 22, Wooster started its 2007 conference schedule on a positive note, prevailing 1-0 in a road match against Wabash College. The Scots lit up the board during the 25th minute via a Scott Buckwald (Seville, Ohio / Cloverleaf) unassisted goal, and that held up as the only score of the game. It marked the sophomore’s third goal this season. Tenorio and O’Boyle combined for the shutout, as each recorded two saves.