Feild hockey stumbles in match up with Slippery Rock; record falls to 0-6

Oberlin's field hockey team has the heart of a fearless warrior, but the record of a sub-par competitor.

Losses to Denison University, Slippery Rock University and Kenyon College this week dropped the Yeowomen to 0-6 on the season.

Saturday, Oberlin was edged 2-1 by Denison University. This loss emits tides of frustration over a solid performance from the Yeowomen, highlighted by senior Ellen Scott's excellent play.

No one can deny that Oberlin wanted this game badly. They took the field with great enthusiasm. Spirited cheers kept the Yeowomen lively, and allowed them to compete with Denison from start to finish.

Unfortunately, Oberlin did not get the breaks that it needed to win the game.

Denison's first goal spoiled a strong first half by the Yeowomen. The Big Red scored the goal with one second remaining in the half. The Yeowomen appeared to be unprepared for the corner shot which resulted in a 1-0 Denison lead.

Coach Mindy Manolovich said, "It was a fluke."

With the exception of Denison's first goal, Oberlin showed they were the better team. They managed to even out the possession time by not allowing Denison to set up camp in Oberlin's defensive zone.

Oberlin mustered ten corner shots, while allowing ten as well. They didn't score on any of their ten chances, but that might have been the result of a divot on the field where they were taking the corners.

Junior Sarann Bielavitz said, "The refs wouldn't let [sophomore]Maggie McFalls move the ball. There was a little indentation in the ground which forced her to lift the ball out of the corner."

The standout player in Saturday's affair was Scott. She anchored the team's defense on corner shots. A common sight on the field was Scott's bull-rush attack on Denison's corners. She consistently broke up scoring chances with her aggressive defense.

Though Scott usually plays a forward position, she has been used on defense because of the team's lack of depth. First-year Danyel Brisk said, "She is working well on defense, even though she doesn't like it."

When Scott wasn't halting the Big Red's offensive attacks, she almost single-handedly provided the Yeowomen's offense. She had all five of Oberlin's shots on goal. One of those shots found its way into Denison's cage for Scott's second goal of the season.

After a stabbing kick-save by Denison's goalie, Scott swooped in and buried the rebound in Denison's goal.

"It was one of the most beautiful goals I've ever seen," Manolovich said.

Oberlin's goal occurred with about 14 minutes left in the game, and gave the Yeowomen a shot in the arm. Down 2-1, they had an opportunity to turn the tables on Denison and score in the last minute of the half, when the official signaled a corner shot for the Yeowomen.

The game would ride on this last opportunity.

The pass from the corner came out, but the Yeowomen were not able to get a shot off. Denison's defense charged and cleared the ball out of the goal crease as the horn sounded to end the game.

Bielavitz said, "The corner was called with one second left. The ball came out all right, but as soon as the ball left the circle, time ran out."

On Tuesday at Division II opponent Slippery Rock, there were no last-second chances.

Mighty Slippery Rock romped over the Yeowomen 4-0.

"They are the most aggressive team we will play this season," Bielavitz said.

Slippery Rock bullied Oberlin in the first half with their intimidating physical play. Oberlin recovered slightly to play a more competitive second half.

"We need to work on being more aggressive in the first half," Brisk said. "We have been giving teams more competition in the second half."

The Yeowomen continued its poor first-half performance on Thursday against Kenyon. Oberlin managed no shots in the first half and lost 3-1.

Manolovich said, "Not until we are down, do we start to play hard."

In the second half, Oberlin picked up their play, launching 11 shots on Kenyon's goal. With Scott out due to dizziness, junior Jesse Robinson picked up the slack and scored Oberlin's only goal .

Up to this point of the season, Manolovich proudly points out her team's strengths: "Conditioning, effort, support, individual skills, confidence." Unfortunately these strengths have not provided the team with a win.

In order to improve the Yeowomen need to build on their aggressive second half play, and to work on what coach Manolovich calls their weakness. "Our skill awareness is still stagnant, and the fundamental skill of keeping your stick down needs to be emphasized."

Sunday the Yeowomen play at Ohio Wesleyan University, still trying to earn their first victory.