Scot Men Booters Give Coach Ford Win No. 50

Chad Spurgeon

Following an unexpected nine-day layoff due to last week's tragic events, The College of Wooster men's soccer team returned to the field on Tuesday (Sept. 18) and played without missing beat, as it cruised to a 5-0 shutout of visiting Capital University in non-conference action.

For Wooster's seventh-year head coach Graham Ford, it marked his 50th career victory.

The Scots, who currently are ranked No. 8 in the Great Lakes Region and now a perfect 5-0-0 against opponents out of the Ohio Athletic Conference this fall while outscoring them 17-3, jumped out in front early with three goals in the first half. Freshman D.J. Snell opened the match's scoring in the ninth minute on his first collegiate goal with an assist coming from senior Chad Spurgeon, marking his first point of the year. The next 21 minutes were scoreless, but then Wooster struck twice in a short period, starting with a goal courtesy of freshman Andrew DeBord off a pass from classmate Adam Milligan. Just eight minutes later, sophomore Andy Rugaiganisa found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal after receiving the ball from freshman Tyler Heisterkamp.

It remained all Scots in the second half with senior Dan Kelly notching his fifth goal of the season in the 60th minute, thanks to a well fed pass from junior Ryan McManus. Ten minutes later, junior Andrew Lewellen completed the scoring with an unassisted goal.

Wooster used two goalies in the win, as sophomore David Workman needed to make just one save in the first 45 minutes, followed by classmate Lance VanHaitsma posting a three-save effort in the second stanza. Capital junior 'keeper Adam Heisel stopped seven shots on the day.

Statistically, the Scots outshot the Crusaders 13-3 and outcornered them 8-3.

Next for Wooster, which improved to 5-1-0 overall, is its North Coast Athletic Conference opener at home against Hiram College (1-3, 0-0 NCAC) on Saturday (Sept. 22) at 3 p.m.