Wyatt Smith
Features Editor
Following two losses last week, the women’s soccer team (5-2-1) turned its luck around by winning their two most recent matches. They beat the Washington and Jefferson College Presidents 2-1 and the Wilmington College Quakers 3-2, both in non-conference play.
Meanwhile, the men’s team (1-5) continues to falter in their early season games, falling to both the Mt. Vernon Nazarene Cougars 3-0 and the Centre College Colonels 2-0 last week.
The first game of the week pitted the men’s team against Mt. Vernon Nazarene.
Scoring opened up in the 17th minute as Mt. Vernon midfielder Josh Thomas chipped the ball from outside the box. The shot soared into the goal uncontested.
Wooster’s first promising shot came 10 minutes later when a powerful header from forward Philip Charnley ’15 ricocheted off the crossbar.
For the rest of the first half, play went back and forth. The Scots set up several promising crosses but they weren’t able to connect with attackers in the box.
In the second half, Cougar attacker Preston Spurrier scored on a breakaway in the 47th minute, assisted by Thomas. The Cougars’ third and final goal came in the 64th minute when a cross from Mt. Vernon forward Kwaku Frimpong connected with fellow attacker Brian Petak and found the back of the net.
The Scots fought back, increasing their chances late in the half. Shots from midfielders Ben Deering ’16 and Zach Jergan ’14 forced saves from the Mt. Vernon keeper, but it wasn’t enough. The game ended with the Cougars solidly in front, 3-0.
The men’s team got a second chance in a contest against Centre College on the next day.
The Colonels recorded the first goal of the match in the 18th minute when a cross found Centre forward Cameron Miller.
The last ten minutes of the first half were the most intense, with many chances on goal and an increase in fouls.
In the 40th minute, Centre forward Josh Settle scored on a breakaway, assisted by midfielder Josh Lyons. Wooster was unable to respond.
The women’s team also played on Friday agasint Washington and Jefferson College. Wooster dominated the start of the match, tallying five shots and two corners in the first 20 minutes of play.
Despite the Scots’ constant offensive pressure, it was the Presidents who got on the scoreboard first. Midfielder Chrissy Marcius scored her team’s first shot of the game.
With the scoring opened up, the contest intensified. The referee ordered the players to “calm it down” as play got more physical.
Wooster goalie Michele Ring ’13 took a free kick from half field in the 32nd minute. The Scots charged the box to put Ring’s floater away, but their aid was unneeded as the free kick took a bounce over the keeper and into the back of the net. It was Ring’s first career goal.
Wooster continued to control play in the second half, with chance after close chance. The Scots finally found their tiebreaker in the 70th minute when Lily Mohre ’16 broke away and laid the ball off to Kay, who put it away.
W&J keeper Mattie Fowlen kept the score close, recording seven saves in the second half, but her team fell short.
The women were able to double their money on Sunday when they defeated the Wilmington College Quakers.
The game was neck-and-neck throughout, with the Scots and Quakers exchanging chances and goals.
Wilmington struck first, with Sarah Watters scoring within the first five minutes of play.
The Scots retaliated with two goals of their own within 16 minutes, one from forward Paige Piper ’13 and the other from midfielder Erin Davison ’13.
The rest of the first half was calmer, with each team only recording one shot.
The Quakers controlled play in the beginning of the second period, with an equalizer by forward Kayla Falkenbach, while not allowing a shot from the Scots for the first 20 minutes.
Wooster soon upped the pressure. Forward Erika Kay ’13 scored the winning goal in the 66th minute.