Women's soccer falls against OWU

The Oberlin women's soccer team came into Saturday night's game against NCAC powerhouse Ohio Wesleyan ready to do battle. Battle they did, under floodlights and before an unusually small crowd in Columbus.

Unfortunately, the motor of Oberlin's finely tuned machine needed several minutes to warm up in each half. Ohio Wesleyan took advantage of the lapses, scoring a goal within the first minute of each half on their way to handing Oberlin a 4-1 defeat.

After the first goal in the 45th second, Oberlin played evenly with Ohio Wesleyan for the rest of the half. After the half, Ohio Wesleyan came on strong once again, scoring a goal in the first minute to move ahead 2-0. Not long afterward, midfielder first-year Becky Knauch scored Oberlin's lone goal to bring them within one.

But the physical play that characterized the whole game came back to bite the Yeowomen, who were penalized for two fouls late in the game, both resulting in penalty shots inside the box, both of which Ohio Wesleyan converted into goals.

Goalkeeper senior Katy Hansen found many positive elements in the defeat. "They might be the best team in the conference, and we played with them," she said. "They were a big, physical, fast team, and they finished much better than we did. When you play a good team, they are going to finish."

While Oberlin didn't finish well, they did manage numerous chances on goal, a good sign against a perennial powerhouse like Ohio Wesleyan..

However, this team appears to be less concerned about moral victories and more about the win column.

They will take that positive attitude into Saturday's 3 p.m. match up against Allegheny.