Scina Highlights Scots’ Women’s Soccer NCAC Honors

Becca Scina

Danielle Witchey

Sophomore goalkeeper Becca Scina (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) was selected as the North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, highlighting The College of Wooster’s honorees on the all-conference women’s soccer team, released Monday by the league office.

In her first season as the full-time starter, Scina made 79 saves and allowed 14 goals for a conference-high .849 save percentage, while posting nine shutouts in 18 starts. She also compiled a 0.76 goals against average, and was the anchor of a Wooster defense that helped carry the team to the championship game of the NCAC Tournament before losing to Denison University in penalty kicks.

Joining Scina on the All-NCAC First Team was Danielle Witchey (Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Watterson), marking the sophomore midfielder’s second career postseason honor after receiving honorable mention last fall. In 2003, Witchey tied for fourth on the team in scoring with 10 points coming on four goals and a pair of assists in 20 starts. She also played a key role on the defensive end of the field, helping the Scots limit opponents to an average of 0.71 goals and 9.3 shots per outing.

Voted second-team all-conference by the NCAC’s nine head coaches were sophomore forward Amanda Coppes (Indianapolis, Ind. / Brebeuf Jesuit) and sophomore defender Allison Hankus (Sunbury, Ohio / Big Walnut). Coppes was Wooster’s top offensive threat, totaling 16 points on six goals, three of which accounted for game-winners, and four assists during 20 starts. Also, she was 2-for-2 on penalty kicks, which were used to break ties in the Scots’ NCAC Tournament semifinal and final games.

Hankus, on the other hand, had a breakout season, earning the starting nod in 19 matches as Wooster’s top defender of a backfield that helped register 11 shutouts in 21 contests. She even was a force offensively at times, knocking in one goal and assisting on four others for six points.

Rounding out the Scots’ all-conference selections, Brianna Lux (Beavercreek, Ohio / Beavercreek) and Jen Jones (Navarre, Ohio / Maumee) received honorable mention, marking the first accolades of their respective careers. Lux, a junior forward, led Wooster with seven goals, including the game winner in a 2-1 overtime decision over Kenyon College, and added an assist for 15 points. Additionally, she was the lone Scot to start all 21 matches and fired 45 shots — the most on the team.

As a sophomore, Jones flourished in her initial season as a starter. She was another member of Wooster’s stingy defense that held the opposition to two or less goals in all 21 matches, highlighted by the 11 shutouts. Jones also took four shots on goal, but did not record an offensive statistic.

As a team, the Scots completed 2003 with a 13-5-3 record, the program’s 12th double-digit win total during the last 14 seasons. In league play, they came in fourth-place during the regular season (5-3), but advanced past top-seeded Allegheny College in the NCAC Tournament semifinals via a 3-1 shootout after tying 0-0 in regulation and two overtimes. Penalty kicks weren’t as kind to Wooster in the tourney’s title game, as Denison broke the 1-1 deadlock by outshooting the Scots 4-3.