SPORTS

Field Hockey smashes two, season closed

by Benjamin Clark

After a season that saw losses pile up like Autumn leaves beneath their feet, the Oberlin field hockey team finished its post season by winning the lower bracket of the 1997 Great Lakes Regional Field Hockey Tournament. In a fitting game, the Saturday after Halloween, the Yeowomen beat Transylvania College 4-1 at Kenyon College. On Sunday the Yeowomen happily traveled back to Kenyon to trample Hanover College 4-0. Despite these victories, Oberlin retained their rank of seventh out of eight teams in the NCAC that they had earned during regular season play.

Compared to some of the powerhouses that Oberlin locked horns with this season, Transylvania stood as one of their weaker opponents. The Yeowomen disposed of Transylvania with ease, scoring three goals in the first half.

Oberlin dominated the game, but let up the pressure in the second half. Coach Mindy Manolovich said, "We got in a bit of a rut, and played down to their level." Transylvania managed one goal in the second, which did not affect the game's outcome. Oberlin played superb defense, only allowed three shots on goal, while taking 16 shots themselves. Senior Kate Daloz led the scoring with two goals, while senior Ellen Scott and sophomore Margaret McFalls each had one.

With a win under their belt in the Regional Tournament, Oberlin battled Hanover on Sunday. The only difference in this game was that Oberlin made no mistakes, and blanked Hanover 4-0.

By no means was this a cream-puff team. Hanover beat second place Kenyon College during the regular season. Oberlin lost two close games to Kenyon in the regular season, including a 2-1 overtime decision. This victory offered some solace to Oberlin for those close Kenyon games.

Scott led the scoring in this game, adding three more goals to her team leading total of 13. Backup goalie senior Jessica Rigby shed her goalie equipment, and scored the other goal for the Yeowomen. Rigby said, "It was very exciting to score a goal. I really liked it."

With Oberlin's small roster, even the backup goalie did some double time as a forward. Manolovich said, "Jessica has concrete fundamental skills, and a good perception of the game."

The Yeowomen cannot help but reflect on this past season, and what might have been. A slow start, a small roster, and several close losses, left the Yeowomen with only two regular season victories. They equaled this total in the post-season. Junior Elizabeth Breakstone said, "I think we have really come a long way this season."

Despite the poor record, the Yeowomen seem content with their results. Rigby said, "It was a good season, even though it took us a while to get started."

This season also exhibited the great individual abilities of the Yeowomen. Scott's goal scoring provided the majority of the offense for the team. Senior Jessica Toubman's consistent, and unsung, mid-field play was the team's backbone, while Breakstone offered top-notch goaltending throughout the season.

Most of this year's problems can be attributed to the small team roster. The team will graduate five seniors this year, leaving only 10 returners to start with next year.

A lot of what happens next season will depend upon the recruiting class that Manolovich draws in. To remedy this season's problems, it will have to be a large class. Rigby said, "We definitely need to have good recruiting."

Next season's team will be built around Breakstone in goal, and a core of experienced players. The first year's on the team have been asked to mature at an accelerated rate this year, due to the small squad. Hopefully, this maturity will show when the Yeowomen enter the 1998 season.

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Copyright © 1997, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 126, Number 8, November 7, 1997

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