GRANVILLE, Ohio (Oct. 19) -- In a tightly contested match featuring almost 30 attempted shots between the two teams, the Denison University women's soccer fell by a 1-0 score to the College of Wooster on Saturday afternoon. The loss snapped Denison's six-match unbeaten streak.
Heading into the game, Denison held a 2-0-1 record in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play, while Wooster started the day at 1-2 in the conference. Both teams had secured wins over Kenyon earlier in the season, and Denison was fresh off a competitive draw against DePauw, eager to add another conference victory to their tally.
Denison created plenty of offensive opportunities, tallying 16 shots with 11 on target, but Wooster's goalkeeper Kameryn Nelson had an outstanding performance, making nine saves. Two additional shots were cleared by Wooster defenders, keeping Denison off the scoreboard.
The match's lone goal came late in the game, as Wooster capitalized on an unfortunate miscue by Denison. With just 10 minutes left, a routine pass back to goalkeeper Wynne Hague resulted in a high-pressing Wooster attack. Abby Henegar surged forward for the Scots, blocking Hague's attempted clearance. The deflection from Henegar sent the ball rolling into the back of the net, giving Wooster the 1-0 lead.
Denison fought hard to equalize in the final moments. Lola Tirabassi came close with a shot that struck the left goal post, and Eliza Roach nearly bent in a corner kick earlier in the match, but the Big Red were unable to find the back of the net.
In a physical contest, Denison committed 14 fouls to Wooster's four, a statistic that highlighted the intensity of the match. With the result, Wooster improved to 9-3-2 overall and 2-2 in the NCAC, while Denison dropped to 7-4-3 overall and took their first conference loss, moving to 2-1-1.
Denison will aim to bounce back on Tuesday, October 22nd, with a 6 p.m. road match at Oberlin.
Gail Murphy inducted into inaugural Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Hall of Fame
Earlier this month, longtime Denison University women's soccer coach Gail Murphy, who led the program for 26 years, was inducted into the inaugural Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Hall of Fame. Murphy guided Denison from 1997 to 2022, amassing 317 wins, 15 NCAA Division III appearances, 8 conference championships, and 4 conference tournament titles. Her career total includes 350 wins with a .663 winning percentage. During halftime of today's game, Bud Lewis, a member of the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association's Executive Committee, joined us on the field to celebrate Murphy's remarkable achievement.
