Wooster 3, Ohio Wesleyan 1

Oct. 31, 2008

Sophomore attacker Christa Cocumelli (Dublin/Bishop Watterson) scored to bring Ohio Wesleyan within 2-1, but Wooster's Amanda Artman completed a hat trick as Wooster defeated Ohio Wesleyan in a showdown for first place in the North Coast Athletic Conference on Friday at Selby Field.

The win clinched the NCAC championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament for Wooster. Ohio Wesleyan will be the No. 2 seed and will host Kenyon in a tournament semifinal game at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Selby Field.

Wooster broke the scoreless deadlock in the 14th minute. The Fighting Scots were awarded a penalty stroke when the ball hit the foot of an Ohio Wesleyan defender in front of the Bishop cage, and Artman converted the stroke for a 1-0 Wooster lead.

Artman had a couple of chances to add to the Wooster lead, just missing a tip-in on a cross from Eileen Barrer midway through the half, and hitting the post with a shot with just under 5 minutes left in the first half.

Wooster extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second half. The Fighting Scots had earned a penalty corner, and Nina Dine's shot was tipped in by Artman right in front of the Ohio Wesleyan cage just under 8 minutes into the period.

Ohio Wesleyan's offense began to click in the second half, picking up numerous penalty corners. Freshman defender Kelsey Morrison (Hudson/Western Reserve) had an open look after a Bishop corner in the 47th minute, and her high shot appeared to be headed for the top shelf, but Wooster keeper Madalyn Myers leaped high and batted the ball over the cage to preserve the shutout.

Moments later, the Bishops capitalized on a scoring opportunity as freshman attacker Mimi Anthony (Millbrook, N.Y./Millbrook School) took a shot from the right side which went through the heart of the Wooster circle to the left side. Cocumelli chased the ball down and lofted a shot which sailed into the right side of the cage to bring the Bishops within 2-1 with 20:31 left in regulation time.

Wooster sealed the game in the 60th minute when Barrer sent a lead pass ahead to Artman, who was off on a breakaway. Ohio Wesleyan keeper Krista Murray (Rochester Hills, Mich./University Liggett) broke up the play but was called for a foul, and Artman converted the ensuing penalty stroke to finish off the hat trick.

Wooster outshot Ohio Wesleyan, 21-11. Murray finished with 4 saves, while Myers was credited with 1 save in the Wooster cage.

Box Score