At the opening of this season, it seemed as if nothing could go right for the Wooster men’s soccer team. Even with a roster stocked with well-seasoned veterans, and a powerful drive to outdo the team’s last year’s performance, the Fighting Scot’s still finished the first week of the 2008 campaign a disheartening 2-0 loss, losing on the road to non-conference opponents Aurora and Heidelberg. With things starting to look somewhat bleak and the experienced Scots searching for a boost to get them on the right track, the team returned to Wooster last Wednesday, Sept. 3 and got back on track against Marietta College.
Finally back playing on the more familiar Carl Dale Field, there were clear signs that the Fighting Scots were starting to make some definite changes.
Strong defensive efforts by both teams left Wooster and Marietta tied throughout the first half and most of the second, until Marietta senior midfielder Jack Dunn was able to drive in a Pioneers goal off a cross from defender Kyle Blakenship during the 74th minute. With the end of regulation in sight, and the dread of a third straight defeat looming, the Scot’s answered quickly, with junior midfielder Karl Ruter ’10 scoring three minutes after the Blakenship goal.
Ruter’s goal came on a free kick following a red card delivered to Marietta senior goalkeeper Steve Hagenau for catching the ball slightly outside the box, deliberately preventing a scoring chance. Now tied and playing a man-up, the Scot’s were unable to build a lead off of Ruter’s 12th career goal, sending the game into two overtime sessions in which neither team were able to manufacture any effective offensive attack.
Although incapable of recording their first victory of the season, Wooster held the offensively strong Pioneers to a 1-1 tie, building momentum for their Saturday against the Defiance University Blue Jackets – the contest once again being held at Carl Dale Field.
From the outset of the game, it was clear that the surging Scots would be the ones in control. Wooster scored early and often against an outplayed Defiance, scoring two goals within the first 20 minutes of play.
Seventeen minutes into the first half, Scot forward Brian Holmes ’11 kicked in the first goal of his career, followed two minutes later by Ruter scoring his second goal of the week. Before the completion of the one-sided first half, Wooster scored again off of a header from forward Davis Bates ’10.
The Scots’ scoring barrage simmered down in the second half, but were still able to add some icing to their victory with a fourth and final goal in the 88th minute off a breakaway shot from forward Scott Buckwald ’10.
Defensively, the Scot’s were equally as impressive, limiting the visiting Jackets to a meager four shots on goal, all of which came in the second half.
Over the two games, Wooster’s goalkeeping committee, Taylor Takacs ’12, Patryk Tenorio ’11 and Jordan O’Boyle ’11, held opposing offenses to anemic levels, allowing only one goal last week.
Wooster fell in a close match Wednesday on the road against Otterbein. The Cardinals headed in a corner in the game’s 54th minute. The Scots fell to 1-3-1 on the season.
Even with Wednesday’s loss, with the Scot’s now over the essential first win hurdle, the team is adamant that Saturday’s outcome will resonate for quite some time. “Even though it was a sub-par team we needed a victory. It was a confidence boost heading into the next couple of games. It’s always fun playing at home with the crowd supporting us,” said senior defender Aaron Oster-Beal.
Their next game is tomorrow at home against John Carroll at 5 p.m.