Lincoln Plews
Staff Writer
The College of Wooster field hockey team ended their regular season on a high note, shutting out both Oberlin College (7-11) by a score of 6-0 and Wittenberg University (9-8) by a score of 2-0.
The Scots faced the Oberlin Yeowomen (4-10 NCAC) on Oct. 25 at John P. Papp Stadium. They wasted no time asserting themselves, with Clare Nelson-Johnson ’13 netting a goal off an assist from Nikki Sever ’14 just three minutes into the game.
The second goal of the game would also come from this duo. This time Sever scored off an assist from Nelson-Johnson to put the Scots up 2-0 in the 20th minute.
The Scots would pour in four more goals before the final whistle, with Nelson-Johnson scoring a career-high four goals and Sever netting two. Nelson-Johnson’s second goal was assisted by Maddie Hart ’12. Sever set up her third goal and Shelby Stone assisted on the final one.
Sever scored her second goal unassisted on a three-on-none breakaway, as her shot deflected off of goalkeeper Kiran Puri and into the net.
Defensively, the Scots held Oberlin to a mere five shots compared to Wooster’s 19.
On Oct. 29, the Scots travelled to conference rival Wittenberg (7-6 NCAC) for the final game of their regular season.
Both teams went scoreless in the first half, with Wooster totaling eight shots to Wittenberg’s six. However, the Scots would take a 1-0 lead one minute into the second half thanks to Nelson-Johnson knocking one in off an assist from Anna Divis ’13.
In the 53rd minute, Wooster’s Isabelle Howes ’13 put the Scots up 2-0 off an assist from Katie Furbee ’13. This would be the final goal of the game. Wooster goalie Liz Plumley ’13 recorded five saves in her third shutout of the season.
The Scots finished the regular season with a record of 9-9 while going 8-6 in conference play, securing them the third seed in the NCAC tournament. In what some expected to be a rough year after the loss of five seniors, the Scots have proven their resilience by making the conference tournament.
Midfielder Brittany Braun ’13 reiterated this sentiment when asked to reflect on the regular season. “For as many who thought this was going to be a rebuilding year, I think they were completely wrong,” she said. “After losing five key seniors, I think each and every one of us stepped it up.”
Wooster began the NCAC tournament on Wednesday after press time in a semifinal match against DePauw University (15-2, 12-1 NCAC).
The winner will play in the NCAC final today against the winner of Wednesday’s match between Denison University (16-1, 13-1 NCAC) and Wittenberg.
The NCAC tournament winner will earn a spot in the NCAA Div. III Tournament and compete for a national championship.