Undefeated Scots Continue Busy Schedule This Week

Simone DiSalvo

The College of Wooster women’s soccer team will play three more matches this week to complete its busy opening stretch of eight matches over 16 days. On Wednesday, Sept. 12, Wooster will be looking to start a season 6-0 for the first time when it welcomes Otterbein College (1-2-1) to Carl Dale Field at 4:30 p.m. The Fighting Scots dropped a 1-0 decision versus Otterbein last fall, marking their first loss to the Cardinals in four total meetings. This Friday night, Sept. 14, Wooster will be at Carnegie Mellon University (2-2) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The Scots have never beaten Carnegie Mellon previously, losing to the Tartans once and tying them twice. Wooster will also be in western Pennsylvania Sunday, Sept. 16, as the Scots will take on Wash. & Jeff. College (1-2-1), a squad that they are 2-0 against all-time, at 2 p.m.

Last Week: The Scots cruised to victories in their three matches, triumphing in each one by a four-goal margin to improve to 5-0 on the season.

On Sept. 4, Wooster defeated host Marietta College 4-0, dictating the action throughout via a 20-5 shot advantage. The Scots’ first-half score was courtesy of junior Alice Bauman (Corrales, N.M. / Albuquerque Academy), marking her second career goal, while providing a cushion in the second half was the combination of Laura Ayer (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) and Simone DiSalvo (Reynoldsburg, Ohio / Reynoldsburg). First, Ayer provided an assist on a DiSalvo goal and then Ayer scored with help from a DiSalvo pass. Freshman Emily Lea (Signal Mountain, Tenn. / Baylor School) would add a late goal for good measure. Wooster used two goalkeepers in the shutout, as senior starter Abby Brown (Copper Canyon, Texas / Marcus) had three saves and freshman Alix Hoffman (Beverly Hills, Mich. / Seaholm) made one during her first collegiate action.

On Sept. 8, the Scots rolled to another 4-0 win, this time over Buffalo State College in Wooster’s home opener. The Scots again held a 1-0 halftime lead, with the score coming off the foot of freshman Ashley Owen (Coshocton, Ohio / River View), marking her first career goal. During the second half, DiSalvo, sophomore Katie Johnson (Norton, Ohio / Norton), and senior Letitia Clark (West Chester, Pa. / George School) accounted for goals, with Johnson also adding an assist. Wooster’s Staci Alario (Sparta, N.J. / Blair Academy) posted the shutout in between the pipes, recording five saves.

On Sept. 9, the Scots easily dispatched Alma College 5-1 at home. Once again, Wooster was ahead 1-0 at the half, behind a goal by Liz Mott (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. / The Masters School), who headed in a cross from Kerry Melenovsky (Lake Orion, Mich. / Avondale). Ayer was the sparkplug for goals in the second half by Clark and senior Kate Kiley (Dedham, Mass. / Noble and Greenough), and then scored one herself for a 4-0 lead. The Scots weren’t done, adding another when first-year Alison Hornbeck (Shepherdstown, W. Va. / Jefferson) slid a pass through the Alma defense to Owen, who booted it in for the goal.