In a matchup that featured the two stingiest defenses in the North Coast Athletic Conference, the Big Red picked up their eighth shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over Wooster on Tuesday night at Barclay-Thomsen Field in Granville.

Prior to Tuesday's match, Denison and Wooster had combined to allow just 13 goals in 25 matches this season. On the flip side, the two squads also ranked in the top-4 in the NCAC in goals per contest. Knowing that goals would be at a premium, Denison, the NCAC's highest scoring offense at three goal per match, wasted no time putting pressure on the Scots' defense, which had allowed the fewest goals (6) in the conference and boasted the league's lowest goals-against average (0.46).

In the third minute, each team had an opportunity to score but the goalies were up to the task. After a Logan Berlet attempt was stopped by Carly Eppler, Wooster's Sadie Norton countered just 30 second later. Norton was one-on-one with DU keeper Jenny Herold, but a nice stretch by Herold allowed her to push the attempt off frame with her right foot.

In the sixth minute of play, the Big Red broke through for the game's first tally. After settling the ball at the top of the box, junior captain Anne Denz fed a pass to freshman Sam Haseltine. With nowhere to go, the rookie touched the ball back to Denz who snuck an arcing shot over Eppler and into the upper right corner at 5:48. The goal was Denz's fifth in the last five games and marked the sixth time in the last seven matches she has registered a point.

Denison had two more solid opportunities to add to their lead in the opening period. The first came from Haseltine who sent a header off the crossbar at 11:24. In the 40th minute, sophomore Grace Murray settled a Berlet corner and ripped a shot that was kicked out of danger by Amy Graham.

The Big Red picked up an insurance goal in the 62nd minute when Murray used her head to redirect a low shot by junior Naomi Barker into the back of the net. The goal was the sophomore's first of the year, while Barker picked up her second assist this season. DU almost made it a three-goal game less than a minute later, but Maggie Armstrong's attempt was punched into the crossbar by Eppler and corralled in front of the goal line.

Denison outshot the Scots 16-9 and held a 9-3 advantage in corners. DU was whistled for twice as many infractions (6-3) and were flagged for the only offsides of the match. Thanks to the two-goal performance from the offense and a shutout pitched by the defense, Denison now leads the league in goal per game (2.9), fewest goals allowed (7) and lowest goals-against average (0.52).

Armstrong and Haseltine paced the DU offense with three shots apiece, while Ashlyn Flaherty and Murray each had two attempts. Herold finished the night with five saves en route to her seventh shutout of the season, tying her total from a season ago.

Carly Joliat and Lissette Torres each registered two attempts for Wooster, while Eppler made six saves in 90 minutes of action.

With the win, the Big Red improves to 12-1 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the NCAC, while the Scots fall to 9-4-1 and 2-2 in league play. Denison will play three of their final four regular season games on the road starting on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Kenyon. Kickoff from Gambier, Ohio is scheduled for 1 p.m.