Feild Hockey outlook Bleak

Mired in a seven-game losing streak, the field hockey team does not foresee an end to its' woes.

The Yeowomen continued their disappointing season with a 1-0 loss at Ohio Wesleyan University on Friday. The team played a solid first half, but was unable to capitalize on any of their 13 shots on goal. The Yeowomen also played without senior Ellen Scott, who has been their best player all season.

This game amounted to another frustrating loss, which seems to be the Yeowomen's slogan this season. In their previous games, they played timidly in the first half, and came out stronger in the second half.

Coach Mindy Manolovich turned the tides against Ohio Wesleyan and brought her troops to the field ready to play in the first half. "We changed our attitude about our season. We pretended it was a brand new season, and that we had no disadvantages," said Manolovich. The Yeowomen dominated first-half possession and shots on goal, proving that they could compete with Ohio Wesleyan (2-3, 2-3.)

Oberlin, however, failed to penetrate Ohio Wesleyan's interior defense. The Yeowomen could not generate a decent scoring chance.

When they were able to squeeze off a shot, Ohio Wesleyan's confident goal-tender stymied them, racking up 8 saves on 13 shots. "She was very aggressive," said junior Elizabeth Breakstone.

In the second half, Ohio Wesleyan scored the game-winning goal on a deflection. The Yeowomen folded after the goal. They retreated back to their part of the field, like a turtle retracting into its shell.

First-year Annabeth Macy said, "We went into the second half with the wrong mentality, we might have been too confident." Oberlin's efforts would be wasted by that one goal.

Manolovich summed up the game when she said, "We were the better team that day. There are some games where we are not as strong as our opponent. This game I felt we were stronger, team to team, but we didn't capitalize."

Illness kept Scott's dominating defense and spirited offense off the field but Manolovich did not believe this significantly affected the game's outcome.

Manolovich said, "...having any player out at any given time has not hurt the team. We have shown that there is no 'I' in team." Saturday, Oberlin let one get away, and who knows if they will have another opportunity to win again. They have tried different approaches to their games, without much success.

With seven losses racked up, their must be a mental component involved in their losing ways. Macy said, "I hate losing. I can't stand this anymore."

Oberlin plays at Wittenberg University on Friday. This should create an added challenge, because Wittenberg's home field is Astroturf and the Yeowomen, as a whole, have not played on the faster turf surface.

Oberlin then meets up with Earlham College on Saturday. Both teams are winless, which should create some added excitement.

Coach Manolovich said, "I predict a win, just as I do for any game."

The bliss of the Game:For a while they forgot their 0-7 record. (photo by Mike Oleson)