Scots Return from North Carolina to Host Two Games

Annie Steward

After recently returning from a three-game spring break trip across the state of North Carolina, The College of Wooster women’s lacrosse team continues its 2007 campaign with two home games at Carl Dale Memorial Field this week. First, on Wednesday, March 28, the Fighting Scots will take on Notre Dame (Ohio) College (6-2) in their home opener at 4:30 p.m. The Falcons should provide a stiff challenge, as they’re riding a six-game winning streak, including victories over three of Wooster’s fellow North Coast Athletic Conference institutions – Denison University (13-10), Oberlin College (19-7), and Wittenberg University (13-4). Wednesday’s meeting will mark the third between Notre Dame (Ohio) and Wooster, with the Scots winning both of the previous two (12-6 in 2006, 16-3 in 2005). Wooster will follow that up with a tilt against Fontbonne University (0-6) on Sunday, April 1, at 1 p.m. The Griffins are competing for the first year as a varsity sport.

Spring Break Recap: A season-opening trip to North Carolina for the Scots resulted in a 1-2 record, as they started with a 14-9 win at Methodist University but then followed with setbacks to Greensboro College (5-10) and Guilford College (12-20).

In its 2007 debut, Wooster received a boost from senior attacker Annie Steward (Littleton, Mass. / Lawrence Academy), who accounted for a career-high six points, including four goals. The Scots jumped out to a 6-3 halftime lead, behind three Steward goals, and in the second, they also scored six of the first nine to effectively put the game away via a 12-6 cushion at the 8:39 mark. Complementing Steward was sophomore Carly Carey (Cummington, Mass. / Academy at Charlemont) with a hat trick and one assist.

Against Greensboro, Wooster ran into a tough defense. After the Scots opened the scoring on an unassisted Carey goal, the Pride held their visitors to just one more over a 20-minute stretch while reeling off seven scores to take a 7-2 lead. Wooster pulled within 7-4 early in the second, but then went on another 20-minute scoreless streak as Greensboro built a 9-4 advantage late in the game.

The Scots’ third contest of the trip was a back-and-forth offensive battle. Wooster scored six goals during each half, but it wasn’t enough as Guilford’s Mary Hutchins tallied a school-record 11 points on seven goals and four assists. The score was tied 2-2 and 3-3 before the Quakers went on a 6-2 rally, and they were ahead 9-6 at intermission. The Scots had the first tally of the second only to see Guilford run off four in a row (13-7) and they never got any closer than a four-goal margin the rest of the way.

If the spring break trip is any indication, Wooster will have a lot of depth on the offensive end this season. Twelve different players scored goals, led by Carey and Steward with six apiece. They each contributed a pair of assists as well, while also of note, Hillary Darragh (Evanston, Ill. / Evanston Township) recorded two goals and four assists, Emily Baab (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) registered four goals, and Taryn Higgins (Marblehead, Mass. / Marblehead) found the back of the net three times.

Defensively, Jamie Dannenberg (Framingham, Mass. / Framingham) played every minute in goal and combined for 16 saves.