Yeowomen Destroy Bluffton in First Home Game
by Rob Smith

After a few swift kicks over the course of an hour and a half the Yeowomen had a solid victory on that Sept. 8 afternoon so long ago. That day, the Oberlin College Yeowomen soccer team defeated Bluffton College by a commanding score of 7-0.
Leading the way was junior Courtney Stackhouse, who managed seven points on three goals and an assist. On the season, Stackhouse is second on the team with 13 points and tied for first with six goals. Teammate Sophomore Chelsea Wallis has high praise for her teammate. “Courtney beats everybody to the ball and she’s always where she needs to be,” she said.
Sophomore transfer Sarah Kipp started the scoring for the Yeowomen. She would finish the game with a goal and two assists for four points. Kipp has been a nice addition to the Yeowomen this season. She has played solidly all year and is currently third on the team with seven points coming on two goals and three assists.
Stackhouse took over the scoring from there, scoring with the next two goals coming by way of her foot giving the Yeowomen a 3-0 lead at half time.
But the Yeowomen were not done at halftime, and they came out firing in the second half.
Senior Becky Kanuch scored twice and finished the day with five points. Kanuch leads the Yeowomen this season with 16 points. Her six goals ties her with Stackhouse for the team lead.
Wallis said, “When Becky gets her head on the ball it goes to the back of the net.” Stackhouse struck once again in between Kanuch goals. Sophomore Mara Brecht, who also was credited with an assist in the game, kicked in the final goal. Brecht is fourth on the team in points. Sophomore Tessa Stevens added an assist of her own on the goal that gave Oberlin the commanding 6-0 lead.
The Yeowomen defense that has been outstanding all season came again to play last Saturday, as the Bluffton Beavers were refused a single shot on goal.
A key part of the Yeowomen defense is Wallis. Wallis played most of the game but was taken out with five minutes remaining when an oversized midfielder from Bluffton took her down with a slide tackle.
Oberlin goalies first-year Alisson Palmer and senior Julie Noyes combined on the shutout each playing a half. Palmer has been seeing most of the time in the net this year for the Yeowomen.
The win moved the Oberlin’s record to an even 2-2 on the season and they have not yet competed in a conference game.
Head coach Jane Wildman has a new addition to her staff this year with assistant Adam Evans. “They work well together and offset each other nicely,” Wallis said.
Due to the tragedies of last week, the women had two games cancelled against Notre Dame of Ohio and Baldwin-Wallace.
The team will resume their dominance at home Tuesday, Sept. 18, against Heidelberg College. The women’s conference starts Sept. 22 at home against rival Kenyon at 1 p.m.