LEXINGTON, Kentucky – First-year Frankie Zehnal scored for the fourth time this season in Saturday's 5-1 loss by The College of Wooster field hockey team at Transylvania University.
Wooster (4-8, 2-6 North Coast Athletic Conference) worked a penalty corner with just over five minutes remaining in the game to Zehnal at the post. Zehnal's initial shot was saved by Transylvania's (7-7, 3-5 NCAC) Libby Bringard. Zehnal then ripped the rebound just inside the left post for the goal.
Wooster had several other chances in the fourth prior to Zehnal's goal. Junior Lizzie Hardy worked the ball through the Pioneers in transition and fired a shot from just inside the circle in the 53rd minute. Bringard made the save, but less than a minute later, the Scots were on the penalty corner.
In the first period, Wooster's defense zeroed in on Transylvania's Lucy Cohen, who was momentarily open just inside the top of the circle. That led to Cohen's shot being blocked, but due to the Scots focus on Cohen, two Pioneers were behind the defenders for the loose ball. Sophia Sparks was one of them and scored the game's first goal in the 11th minute.
Transylvania's strong start to the second half pulled the Pioneers away from the Scots. Patience by Cohen following a 35th-minute penalty insert turned into a goal. Cohen slotted a cross-direction goal into the left corner of the cage from the right side. Less than four minutes later, a ball was played in to Caroline Seaward, who won a one-on-one battle with a Wooster defender for the game's third goal. The Pioneers tacked on a third score in the third period when Maddy Morgan spun and scored from right in front of the cage in the final moments.
Emily Long tacked on the final goal of the day for Transylvania.
Transylvania doubled up Wooster 16-8 on shots. Sophomore Naledi Jani was credited for three of Wooster's eight.
Junior Cate Barkdoll had six saves, while sophomore Nono Kauffman added two in a quarter of action. Bringard ended the day with three saves for the Pioneers.
Wooster's weekend wraps up with a 1 p.m. game at Wittenberg University (10-1, 7-1 NCAC) on Sunday, October 27.
