Scots Upended by Denison 10-7 in NCAC Tourney Semis

Megan Sward

The College of Wooster women’s lacrosse team had won its last eight games and marched through the North Coast Athletic Conference regular season with an unblemished record (6-0) en route to grabbing the top-seed for the four-team league tournament hosted by Denison University in Granville, Ohio. The run came to an abrupt and disappointing halt on Friday afternoon as the host Big Red upset the Fighting Scots in the tourney semifinals, scoring each of the last six goals of the contest to emerge with a 10-7 victory and advance to the NCAC Championship tomorrow afternoon.

After falling to Wooster (11-3) 7-2 during the regular season meeting, fourth-seed Denison (7-7) came out with two quick scores to grab an early lead less than five minutes in. Junior Katie Graham cut the margin to 2-1 with the first score for the Scots, taking a pass from Helena Iaquinta to the net at 22:44.

The Big Red jumped back ahead by two (3-1) on a free position goal by Krissy Frost at 16:36, but the Wooster offense finally kicked into gear by scoring each of the last three goals of the half, including free position scores by Carly Carey and Hillary Darragh, to take the lead at the break 4-3.

The Scots carried the momentum into the beginning of the second stanza as senior Megan Sward tossed in a pair of goals courtesy of sisters Allison and Joanna Harrod, making the advantage 6-3. Read Powel brought Denison to within two (6-4) at 20:54, but first-year Carly Carey made it a three-goal lead for Wooster just 51 seconds later.

Frost started the Big Red comeback with a free position goal at 15:20 and threw in an unassisted score just under a minute later to bring the hosts to within one (7-6). After another unassisted goal knotted the game at 7-7 at 9:36, Quinn Simmons connected on a free position goal at 6:39, which would stand as the game-winner. Denison added some insurance with two more goals over the final 5:25 to seal the win.

Wooster had no answer for Frost, who totaled four points on a hat trick and one assist, while connecting on 2-of-3 free position shots. Simmons tossed in a pair of goals and was the main reason Denison controlled the draw in the game (14-5) with a game-high six draw controls.

Sward and Iaquinta led the Scots with three points apiece, with the former’s coming on two goals and an assist and the latter’s on one goal and a pair of helpers. Taryn Higgins paced the defensive effort with six ground balls and three caused turnovers.

Scot goalie Nicki Hunt made 12 saves in a losing cause, while net-mate Carolyn Hicks tallied 16 saves, including 10 in the opening half.