The College of Wooster field hockey team was part of a high-scoring affair with Utica College on Sunday in a neutral-site match-up at Oneonta, N.Y., but the Fighting Scots came up on the short end of a 7-3 decision in their second game of 2014.
All three Wooster goals were scored by Kayla O'Connor, marking the sophomore's second career hat trick. Ironically, her first three-goal outing came in last season's second game.
On Sunday, O'Connor gave the Fighting Scots an early 1-0 lead, driving in a shot off a feed from Anjela Galimberti during a penalty corner.
The difference in the contest came midway through the first half when Utica (2-0) exploded for three goals in a 4:38 stretch. The 3-1 score held up through halftime.
After the Pioneers extended their advantage moments into the second, Wooster battled back to within two on two different occasions. O'Connor's second tally, assisted by twin sister Kerry O'Connor, made it 4-2, and her third goal, assisted by Galimberti during another corner, put the score at 5-3.
While there was still 14:21 remaining, the Scots were unable to pull any closer and Utica eventually tacked on a couple of late insurance goals for the final outcome.
Wooster brings back some positives from its challenging two-game trip to upstate New York. Specifically, the penalty corner unit has been very effective, scoring three times out of 10 such opportunities.
The Scots do not play again until Wednesday, Sept. 10, when they makes their home debut against Ohio Wesleyan University in a North Coast Athletic Conference tilt.
