Soccer teams up and down in tough conference matches

Soccer teams up and down in tough conference matches

Matt Magoon

Sports Editor

After several close losses, the men’s soccer team looked to top DePauw University on Oct. 15. At the time, DePauw was ranked No. 25 in the nation. The windy conditions proved to play a factor in the game on Carl Dale Memorial Field.

In the first half of play, DePauw jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal from the Tiger’s Sam Meyer who would also later score DePauw’s next goal in the second half. Unfortunately, DePauw capitalized on a penalty kick in order to put the Tigers out of reach. The Scots dropped to the Tigers with a final score of 4-1.

Five days later, the Scots traveled to Ohio Wesleyan University taking on the No. 6 team in the nation. The Battling Bishops proved to be too much for the Fighting Scots as they scored two goals in the first half. However, Jonathan Fox ’12 fought for a penalty kick opportunity that was stopped by the OWU goalkeeper. In the second half of play, the Ohio Wesleyan men continued their progress, tacking on four more goals despite the efforts of Taylor Takacs ’12, who tallied seven saves total in the game.

After six straight losses on the season, the Fighting Scots looked to rise from the hole that they had placed themselves in. With a home game against Oberlin, and with a decent crowd at hand, the men overcame adversity and topped the Yeomen.

Oberlin scored a fluke goal in the beginning of the game to put them on top 1-0. However, the Fighting Scots did not give up. Instead, they tallied their first goal in two games at the start of the second half.

This gave the momentum to the Scots, and also ignited defender George Skelly ’14’s first collegiate goal off of an assist from Noah Wagemann ’14.

The men have finally snapped their losing streak and look to finish out the season strong in their next two games away at Hiram and Wittenberg University.

On the other side of the ball, the Fighting Scots women’s soccer team played three games as well, starting Oct. 15 at Carl Dale Memorial Field against DePauw.

In the first half, DePauw jumped out to a 1-0 lead. However, early in the second half there was a plethora of scoring for both teams. Wooster put two goals past the Tiger’s keeper within three minutes of each other. Kelsey Peters ’12 and Mary Riney ’12 each scored their second goals of the year.

The Scots’ lead lasted for only 37 seconds when the Tigers scored another goal knotting the game at two. The game stayed this way through two overtimes, finishing in a tie.

On Oct. 19 the women traveled to Hiram University to take on the Terriers in search of a much-needed win. The Scots came out flying in the beginning of the game scoring two goals in the first 18 minutes, which proved to be enough for Wooster to fight for another conference win.

Carrying momentum into their next game against Ohio Wesleyan, Paige Piper ’13 scored in just the fourth minute of the opening half. However, OWU responded with a goal in the 23rd minute. These two goals proved to be it for the game that ended in a 1-1 tie.

The women will travel to Springfield, Ohio to take on arch rival Wittenberg University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.