The field hockey team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Denison University last week. Early in the game it looked as if it was business as usual for the Scots.† Eileen Barrer í11 and Amanda Artman í10 both found the goal in the first half and the Scots went into the locker room ahead 2-0. However once the second half started, it was a different game.
Denison controlled the ball for the majority of the second half and held a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal. The score was tied at 2-2 for the last 15 minutes of the game until, with no time left on the clock, Denison was awarded a penalty corner. Because the game cannot end until the ball leaves the circle on penalty corners, the Big Red ended up getting one more chance for a victory.
On the second penalty corner with no time on the clock, Kristen Schneider slipped the ball in behind the Scotsí goalkeeper, Madalyn Myers í12. Although it was a heartbreaking ending to the Scotsí undefeated reign in the field hockey circuit, the team remains positive going forward.
Artman, forward and leading scorer, said, ìI think the loss to Denison taught us a lot.† We’re the top team in the conference but that doesnít mean that we donít have to work hard for every win.”
The Scots bounced back with a win Wednesday, defeating Ohio Wesleyan University 4-3.† After trailing 1-0 at the half, the team was able to string together four goals over the remaining 35 minutes.† Wooster goals came from Artman, Barrer (2) and Maddie Hart í12.† In the games, both teams found the net on penalty strokes.
Wooster still sits atop the conference with a record of 9-1 (6-1), and they are hoping to still fulfill their long-term goals of winning the regular season title outright as well as the NCAC tournament. However, after this humbling loss they are looking less towards the future and more towards the present. ìObviously, nationals is the long-term goal, but at this point weíre just taking things one game at a time,” said Artman.
The good news is the team is still young and they are learning a lot every game. With two first-year starters in the midfield and on defense, as well as multiple other first-years that get time each game, the whole team knows they still have a lot of room for improvement.
Right now they are only looking ahead to their two weekend opponents, St. Maryís College and Randolph-Macon College.† These games make up the Scotsí road trip to Maryland over the Collegeís fall break.† They return to conference action at home against Oberlin College on Oct. 8.