Box Score Lucy Pearsall's goal 2:13 into the first overtime propelled Denison to a 3-2 victory over The College of Wooster in Granville. The win moves the Big Red to 10-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Saturday's showdown with first place Kenyon will close out the regular season and finalize the pairings for next week's NCAC Tournament.
Leading 2-1 with seconds remaining in regulation, the Fighting Scots scored the tying goal when Lauren Abbott tipped in a ball that went over the head of Denison goalie Ellen Westfall and into the back of the cage. With 37 seconds remaining, Denison took possession and forced a penalty corner situation with 10 seconds left. With no time on the clock, Denison's Allie Bacon took a shot that was blocked by a Wooster defender. Kat Swan was there with a flick on a loose ball that came close to crossing the goal line, but after a conference by officials, it was ruled that the ball did not make it across, forcing overtime.
In the overtime session, Denison came out of the gate quickly as Britta Marden took the center pass and charged at the goal. Her shot was denied by a defensive save by Rachel Wetzel. Thirty seconds later, Denison had forced a penalty corner. DU was awarded a second corner and that's when Pearsall took a shot that ricocheted off a Wooster defender and into the cage. The goal was Pearsall's eighth of the season. It also marked her second game-winner this season against Wooster.
Trailing 1-0 late in the first half, DU tied the match when Pearsall's pass to Jen Durbin who tipped the ball in for her 11th goal of the season. Five minutes into the second half, Denison took a 2-1 lead when Jane Higley bounced a shot off the Wooster goalie and into the cage.
Westfall finished with five saves for Denison while Danielle Slichenmyer ended with six saves for Wooster. The Big Red held a decisive 31-12 advantage in shots. They also won the penalty corner battle, 13-4.
Denison will close out the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 31 when they host Kenyon at 11 a.m. inside Piper Stadium.
