Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Women Soccer at Wooster
Peter Wangechi
Evie Coutris prepares to head in the go-ahead goal
3
Winner John Carroll JCU (6-8-4, 3-2-2)
2
Wooster WOO (11-4-3, 6-0-1)
Winner
John Carroll JCU
(6-8-4, 3-2-2)
3
Final
2
Wooster WOO
(11-4-3, 6-0-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
John Carroll JCU 0 3 3
Wooster WOO 1 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | JCUSID

Women's Soccer Stuns #1 Seed Wooster in NCAC Tournament Semifinal

The Blue Streaks won at Wooster for the first time since 1998

WOOSTER, Ohio – Never count out John Carroll Women's Soccer in November. 

History pointed to a difficult match ahead for JCU on Tuesday afternoon. Wooster's grass pitch is not easy for opponents, especially with rain and wind whipping in. In 21 meetings, JCU had only won once at Wooster, way back in 1998.

But in a dramatic North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinal, the Blue Streaks prevailed, 3-2. 

Evie Coutris played the unheralded hero, scoring two of John Carroll's three second-half goals. And so for the fourth straight season, the Blue Streaks will play for a tournament championship. 

The beginning of the game was fairly uneventful, as the first shot on goal of the game did not occur until Brooke Berkowitz put a shot on net low right in the 13th minute. Wooster first tested Madison Skeese in the 19th minute. 

In the 30th minute, the Blue Streaks made the game's first major mistake. A JCU player took too big of a touch near the midfield, and Wooster's Annie Henegar stole the ball away. The speedy junior, who entered the game tied for third in the conference with 6 goals, raced towards the goal. Beating a pair of JCU defenders, Henegar beat the goalie high. 

Neither team mustered much down the stretch of the first half, so the Fighting Scots soared into halftime ahead, 1-0.

Just over 12 minutes into the second stanza, the Blue Streaks began a tidal wave that would overtake Wooster. 

In the 58th minute, Brooke Berkowitz controlled it on the nearside before sending it in towards Gracie Villwock. The sophomore tapped a pass to her right to Abby Walker. Unmarked, the senior took a great touch at the top of the box and beat the keeper high right for the equalizer.

Just under two minutes later, the Blue Streaks stole the lead. Andrea Quintero Delgado sent in a perfect corner kick to Evie Coutris, who headed it to the right of the keeper and in for a fantastic goal. The tally marked the first of Coutris' college career. 

Wobbling like a stunned prizefighter, the Fighting Scots could not find their footing. A few minutes later, in a similar start to the first goal, Berkowitz controlled the ball up the left wing. The sophomore crossed it perfectly across the face of the goal, but a sliding Streak missed it. Quintero Delgado raced on the right side to get the ball and tried to send it in, but it bounced off a Fighting Scot. Sensing an opportunity, Julia Niehaus galloped in and sent a pass into the box.

A Wooster defender and the keeper came out trying to clear the ball. But the Wooster defender inadvertently headed the ball fatefully to Coutris' waiting head. The first year from Strongsville secured not only the brace, but a massive insurance goal.

As to be expected, the Fighting Scots fought tooth and nail to get back into the game. But the visitors got their chances, too, refusing to park the bus.

With 15 minutes left, the Blue Streaks nearly put the game away on an Abby Walker shot, but the keeper secured the save. JCU looked poised to add another on the board.

The Fighting Scots nearly broke through with 7 minutes left on a breathtaking chance, but Skeese stepped up. The junior kept on turning away Wooster chances, as the hosts kept on pressing.

At last with 1:28 remaining, Wooster got a goal back. Bella Crompton scored on a direct free kick that beat the keeper high. With enough time to tie it, Wooster sighed a relief at having a chance now.

But in the final 88 seconds, the Blue Streaks calmly tapped away every potential Wooster buildup. The Fighting Scots never got in position to send in the potential tying shot. 

For the match, Wooster outshot JCU, 14-9, including shots on goal, 8-5. The Blue Streaks avenged a 1-0 loss earlier this season to Wooster, also on the road.

And now, for the second straight season, John Carroll will play for the NCAC title and the automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.  

Next Up
The Blue Streaks will face the winner of Kenyon and Denison on the road on Saturday. The Owls and Big Red play on Wednesday night at 7 pm in Granville, Ohio. 
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors