Men's soccer team 1-2-1 in last two weeks

After taking a week off for midterms, the men's soccer team headed up to Vermont for some grueling hiking and strenuous hanging-out while playing games at State University of New York, Plattsburgh on Oct. 21 and Castleton State University on Oct. 22. The team then returned to Oberlin to play Earlham College on Saturday and Case Western Reserve University on Wednesday. The Yeomen were 1-2-1 on the spread.

"The Fall break trip was fantastic," Coach Chris Barker said. "The guys had a great time and got to know each other better, which is important for a team's camaraderie and spirit. In the long run it makes a team better."

"The trip brought us closer together," senior Gordon Schoenfeld said. "We spent a night at [senior] Sam Krasnow's house and were jamming on some bongos."

"Vermont was gorgeous," Goalie first-year Scott Duthie said. "We went for a couple of one to two hour hikes."

The Yeomen got to practice on Middlebury College's stunning soccer field before going up against Plattsburgh. "We got to Middlebury and all wanted to transfer there," Barker said. "It's ringed by mountains and has beautiful forest. We practiced on a gorgeous field and then when we got to Plattsburgh the field sucked. They were also very good."

Plattsburgh drilled four goals in the first half, with Oberlin scoreless. "It didn't go as well as we would have liked," Duthie said.

"I told the team that we had lost the first half," Barker said. "We would have to try to win the second." The Yeomen came out much stronger in the second half, only giving up one goal while remaining scoreless.

"We started off flat," Schoenfeld said. "In the second half we played a much better game." Even with this small victory, Plattsburgh out-shot the Yeomen 19-4.

The Castleton game was much more of a success as Oberlin took the game 2-1. Castleton put one in during the first half, giving Oberlin worry at the half as they couldn't grab a score. Then Oberlin evened it up about fifteen minutes into the second half. "[Senior] Brendan Cody followed up a shot and scored," Barker said. Soon after, with ten minutes left in the game, sophomore Stephen Kehler's father witnessed his son's first ever collegiate goal.

"Kehler just beat his man to the ball to get the shot off," Barker said. "It hooked around the goalie into the top of the net."

"We worked really hard as a team," Duthie said. "We really wanted the win."

On Oct. 23 the team returned to Oberlin, practiced on Friday, and then headed off to Earlham with the women's team. "We were happy to be back, but at the same time we were really bummed to be leaving Vermont," Schoenfeld said. "It was so gorgeous."

Earlham's team has pumped itself up in the past year. "Their coach has done a great job with that program," Barker said. "We played o.k., it was pretty even game, maybe 60/40 their way. They had one kid who scored on two rockets. Scott didn't even have time to react."

"It was a very solid game overall," Duthie said.

"They had a cheap goal at the beginning of the game," Schoenfeld said. "We were down 2-1 at the half and then we came out real strong for the second to lose the game 3-1. The crowd was really rambunctious, it was a real soccer game."

Wednesday's game was one of the team's closest nail-biters of the season. Oberlin scored about five minutes into the first half as sophomore Jon WIlson lifted the ball towards the goal on a free-kick. Case Western's goalie dropped it and Krasnow followed it in for the score.

The Yeomen pretty much dominated the game, in spite of failed attempts at any other goals. The team out-shot Case Western 16 to eight, but couldn't capitalize on their many scoring opportunities. "We just weren't technically good enough at finishing," Barker said.

In spite of this, Case Western scored with two and a half minutes to play while the defense couldn't clear the ball in front of the goal. Rather than giving in to frustration, the Yeomen rallied for an all-out extended offensive campaign, but still could not get the point. The game went into sudden death overtime, then double overtime, and finally had to be called a tie on account of darkness.

"There was a real positive feeling to that game," Barker said. "We had lots of spirit and lots of pride. We never got frustrated."

"We got mad after their goal," Schoenfeld said. "It is unfortunate that events resulted in that tangle at the goal, but it didn't affect our play. We still played well as a team, it was just something that happened."

"We just couldn't clear the ball," Duthie said. "There was a mob of people and it just bounced to the wrong guy. It was frustrating but we didn't let it affect our play."

Saturday the team plays Ohio Wesleyan University at home. "We're pumped up for that game," Schoenfeld said. "It's our last game and our last chance to take it to a new level. We've done lots of good things this season and we hope we can wrap them all up together for our final game."

"This team is on the edge," Barker said. "They're a young team and excited. They will go far and do well."

In control: Senior JT Engelhardt calmly and coolly brings the ball up in the 1-1 game against Case Western on Wednesday. Oberlin led until the last two and a half minutes. (photo by John Matney)

 

When athlete becomes artist: Sophomore Moto Tohda in mid-blast. (photo by Zack Williamson)