Box Score WOOSTER, Ohio-- Denison moved into a tie for second place in the North Coast Athletic Conference following a 4-3 overtime victory over the College of Wooster on Wednesday. The win sets up a regular season finale matchup against Kenyon that will determine which team receives the No. 2 seed in next week's NCAC Tournament.
With Denison leading 3-2 with less than two minutes to play, Wooster's Kerry O'Connor connected with Kayla O'Connor with 81 seconds remaining. The goal forced an overtime period and the Big Red wasted little time going on the offensive. Just 24 seconds into OT, Charlotte Happel put a shot-on-goal that was saved by Wooster goalie Lida LeVine. DU was awarded a penalty corner seconds later and after a shot by Ali Gakenheimer was blocked, Lucy Pearsall was there for the put-back off the rebound, clinching the win for Denison.
Wooster took a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the match. Lauren Abbott's initial shot after a penalty corner insertion was saved by Denison goalie Ellen Westfall. Abbott stayed with the play, gathered the rebound, and scored from close range.
The lead was short-lived as the Big Red stormed back when Happel stole the ball inside the Wooster circle. She sent a pass to the far corner of the goal where Abby Martone was there to deposit the ball.
With three minutes to play in the first half, Denison took a 2-1 lead when Pearsall scored on a one-timer shot after playing the deflection off the post of the cage.
The Big Red's third goal came in the 47th minute after the Big Red offense fired three consecutive shots at LeVine. Happel started things with a shot-on-goal and that was followed by a shot by Pearsall. After Levine's second-straight save, Happel converted for her 14th goal of the season.
Wooster cut into the Denison lead in the 57th minute as Leah Prescott served up a pass to Kerry O'Connor for her 10th goal of the season.
Denison improves to 10-3 in the NCAC and 13-4 overall. Wooster drops to 8-10 and 6-7 in conference play.
