Scots Among Several NCAC Teams Battling for Spot in Postseason

For The Week Of:
October 22, 2007

Written by Hugh Howard
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Kate Kiley

With just one week left in the regular season, six teams, including The College of Wooster, are still vying for the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and seven are in contention for a spot in the league’s four-team postseason tournament. Wooster is part of a three-way tie for fifth-place and travels to Ohio Wesleyan University (12-5, 5-2 NCAC), which is tied for third, for a match under the lights Wednesday, Oct. 24, starting at 7 p.m. Ohio Wesleyan holds a 15-7-1 edge in 23 prior meetings, but the Fighting Scots won in a 1-0 shutout last year. Also, this Saturday, Oct. 27, Wooster will host second-place Earlham College (12-3-1, 4-2-0 NCAC) at 1 p.m., in another match that could have substantial playoff implications. The Scots have a strong history against Earlham, owning a 15-1-1 record against the Quakers, including a 2-0 triumph last fall.

Last Week: Wooster split a pair of conference matches, putting the Scots at 11-4-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the NCAC.

On Oct. 17, the Scots outshot No. 24 ranked Denison University, following a Big Red goal early in the second half, but could not put in the equalizer, and visiting Denison walked away with a 1-0 victory. Wooster held firm throughout the opening half, despite facing 13 shots, however, Denison’s first attempt of the second half was on the mark.
The Scots’ offense would respond with a series of runs to no avail, while defensively, senior ‘keeper Abby Brown (Copper Canyon, Texas / Marcus) kept them within striking distance. For the game, Brown had four saves, none better than a diving stop to her right during the 66th minute.

On Oct. 20, Wooster cruised past visiting Oberlin College 3-0, giving the Scots’ 17th-year coach David “Geordie” Brown his 200th career win (200-99-23). Wooster dominated the first half with a 12-2 advantage in shots, including two that went in. The Scots got on the scoreboard first during the 24th minute when the Oberlin ‘keeper came out to challenge Laura Ayer (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon), who passed it over to Letitia Clark (West Chester, Pa. / George School) for a tap-in goal. Right before the halftime break, Wooster gained a two-goal cushion, as an Angela Evans’ (Worthington, Ohio / Thomas Worthington) free kick hit off the post and bounced over to Kate Kiley (Dedham, Mass. / Noble and Greenough School), who headed it for the goal. Clark would record another goal in the 60th minute, this time courtesy of an assist from Liz Mott (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. / The Masters School). It marked the first career two-goal game for the junior. The Yeowomen were shutout by the duo of Brown and Staci Alario (Sparta, N.J. / Blair Academy), as each made two saves, playing in the first and second half, respectively.