Women’s Lax Loses at Kenyon
The Yeowomen
Defense Suffers From Inexperience
BY BROOK WHITMORE

Last Saturday in Gambier, Ohio, the Oberlin women’s lacrosse team met with the ladies of Kenyon. Following the long ride, when the teams took the field, Oberlin’s fatigue showed, and Kenyon pummulled Oberlin with their offensive efforts.
Oberlin’s young defense is still learning and getting comfortable in their positions, and the team lacks substantial experience. Despite Kenyon’s powerful attacks, Oberlin was able to score a couple of goals. The first came when sophomore Brianna Quinn connected with junior Laura Kent-Monning on a crisp pass that Kent-Monning buried in Kenyon’s net. 

Following Kent-Monning’s beautiful goal Kenyon answered with a couple of their own. Following Kenyon’s answering, senior Maya Leanard-Cahn finessed a shot past a stunned Kenyon goal keeper. Kenyon unfortunately was able to slip nine shots into Oberlin’s net before going into halftime. 

Coming out of halftime Oberlin was able to keep some of their offense working. It is always tough playing from behind and that is what the Yeowomen were doing coming into the second half. A sense of defeat often looms in minds of the players when they are down in a game, and the feelings can take a team from their game, causing them to function poorly. 
Another problem was that Oberlin had trouble adapting to Kenyon’s scrappy style of play. It seemed as if they had underestimated the offensive potential of their opposition. Another factor that came into play was that of fatigue, Kenyon has a hearty bench chalked with solid players. The Yeowomen also have a strong few on the bench but the numbers didn’t compare, especially on a day when the temperatures are in the 80-degree range. It was a lucky day for Kenyon, as many of their goals came from low-percentage shots that don’t usually fall. 

Kent-Monning who also scored in the first half, stepped up in the second and pranced through Kenyon’s defense to drop the fourth goal for Oberlin. Most of the time, a goal or two will lift the spirits of a team and pump a bit of energy through the squad. Unfortunately, Oberlin was too far back, fighting an increasingly uphill battle. 
Following Kent-Monning’s effort Mary Salvania ripped a pass from Kenyon and went on a solo mission through the defense into the back of their net. This second goal lifted a bit of weight from the Yeowomen’s shoulders but it was too little too late. 

This offensive punch from Oberlin was all the ladies had left, and for the remainder of the half they struggled to capitalize on shots and allowed another nine scores from Kenyon. The game finished with a score of 18-5 in favor of Kenyon.

The loss dropped the Yeowomen’s record to 3-9 overall, and 2-5 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. The team will travel back to Kenyon to play in the NCAC Championships on Friday and Saturday.