OC routs Bluffton as Wilson scores 5

The Oberlin men's soccer team delivered an impressive week of play, beating Bluffton 7-1 and delivering a strong performance despite a number of tough breaks and injuries in a 4-1 loss to the College of Wooster. They continue to improve as the season continues.

Oberlin trampled Bluffton on Saturday when junior captain Jon Wilson scored five goals, tying a 40 year-old single-game school scoring record. Even with all their starters replaced by subs for much of the game, Oberlin managed to defeat their opponent with relative ease.

"We stayed pretty focused and played good soccer. We could have easily deteriorated down to their level, but we didn't, which is why we pummeled them," Coach Chris Barker said.

The Yeomen came out strong and got even better as the match continued. Their aggressive offense and defense were too much for Bluffton's Beavers. Seven minutes into the first half, Wilson scored the first goal. That set the tone for the rest of the game, as Oberlin continued to assault Bluffton's goaltender with a barrage of shots.

Wilson's second and third goal came within five minutes of each other. Before his third goal, he approached the net and Bluffton's keeper came out, but stumbled. Wilson dribbled right past the goalkeeper to put the game out of reach. All of Oberlin's goals were examples of skill and finesse rather than raw power.

Gradually, all the starters were taken out and replaced with subs. The fresh legs continued to dominate the Beavers. With 14 minutes left sophomore Kofi Deh, Wilson's replacement, scored. Bluffton's keeper came out but Deh blasted past both him and a defender and went in for the goal. "It was awesome when Kofi scored. The whole team knew he'd put one in. He knows how to score," first-year Andy Harrison said. Unfortunately, Deh sprained his ankle scoring the goal and had to leave the game. He will be out of action for at least a week.

As the second half began, it was clear that Oberlin would win, it was only a question of how strong they would finish. In past games, the Yeomen played with less intensity during the second half when faced by a weaker team. "We've really been working on finishing strong in terms of scoring. We did it in this game. It showed us we can do it," junior Chris Nytch said.

The buzz in the stands, though, was about one player in particular. Wilson needed only one more goal to tie the school record set in 1952. At the rate he was going, it seemed likely he would do it.

Seven minutes into the period Wilson kicked his way into the history books when he scored his fifth goal, Oberlin's sixth of the game. Just as in the first half, Oberlin dominated play and brought in a lot of subs. Their offense remained aggressive, while their defense stayed solid. "The subs played well. They maintained the style of play from the beginning, showing the potential the team has in years to come," Nytch said.

As a result of his stellar performance Saturday and his consistently strong playing, Wilson was named NCAC athlete of the week. "I think it's great he had a game like that. It was the Jon we all know and love. I'm very happy for him," Nytch said. Wilson has not let it go to his head, though. He said he is focused on the tougher upcoming conference games. He wasn't even aware he'd made history at the time. "I didn't even know about it until after the game," Wilson said.

The victory gave the men a much needed morale boost. "It was nice because we had been really working hard on the offense in practice and we got to see immediate results. We're a very mental team," Harrison said.

Barker also thought the win had a positive mental impact. "I definitely think the team's confidence has risen and for good reason. They played very good soccer on Saturday. The whole team played and had a hand in the victory," Barker said.

In their next game, Oberlin played 90 minutes of fast, hard soccer against rival Wooster Thursday but lost 4-1. "We played a great game especially considering this was a better team than the ones we've been playing. Sometimes you just lose even when you play well," sophomore Sam Hopkins said.

The Yeomen came out strong and the teams seemed well matched. It was to be a challenging game for both sides. The Yeomen's footwork was impressive as they battled for control, and neither team scored for the first half hour. Oberlin had several good scoring opportunities and their defense was solid, but with 15 minutes remaining in the first half a Wooster player wove thorough Oberlin's defense and scored. Unaffected, the Yeomen remained on the mark, and the first half closed 1-0.

Oberlin busted into the second half with force and determination but suffered the loss of one of their best players. Eight minutes into the second half, Nytch was injured and forced to sit out the remainder of the game. The setback seemed to make the Yeomen even hungrier for a goal. Five minutes later, Wilson dribbled past Wooster's defense with impressive footwork and made a perfect shot into the upper left corner to even the score at one.

Keeper sophomore Caleb Stokes had a lot of difficult saves throughout the second half. Even with the loss of Nytch, defense remained strong for most of the half. "Ned (Basbaum) stepped in and did a good job," Stokes said. Wooster did, however, manage to regain the lead only five minutes after Oberlin evened the count, scoring on a free kick. Oberlin made several good attempts on goal, never slowing despite the mental and physical drain of the fast paced game. Two late goals by Wooster put the game out of reach for the Yeomen.

Players agreed the team played well with only a few bad moments accounting for the loss. "We stepped up in the first half, but had lapses in the second half," Hopkins said. "We played hard for most of the game but in soccer it comes down to plays. We didn't make the plays, they did. There's a difference between playing well and winning. We need to figure out how to win tough games," Stokes said.

The Yeomen are optimistic about this week's upcoming games. They host Mount Union Saturday and Lake Erie Wednesday. "Mt. Union will be a hard game. They're a good team, but you never know what will happen. We don't make assumptions," Stokes said.