Women's lax cruises toward NCAC tournament

The Oberlin women's lacrosse team finished regular season play Wednesday, bringing home a 16-8 victory over Allegheny College. With this victory the team boasts a five-game winning streak and raised their regular season record to 7-4.

Despite poor field conditions, Oberlin took control of Allegheny behind the stalwart offensive play of junior Lydia Reis, who scored seven goals on the day. That came just one week after her seven-goal offensive explosion against Kenyon, which helped the Yeowomen to a crucial 17-16 victory.

Meanwhile, sophomore Maggie McFalls, who scored last week's game-winning goal against Kenyon with just 30 seconds remaining on the clock, added to Oberlin's offensive barrage with four goals in total. Seniors Kim Allen and Cecily Beane, who have led the team by example throughout the season, turned in solid efforts on both ends of the field. Finally, sophomore goalkeeper Alexandra Grindle also played a heads-up game, confounding her opponents by turning away countless shots on net.

The victory Wednesday followed a very successful weekend for the Yeowomen. On Saturday, they destroyed Wittenberg College, 19-3, and Sunday witnessed a 14-1 thrashing of Earlham College.

The five-game winning streak has given Oberlin the confidence it needs going into post-season play. Coming into this season, many doubted the ability of the team to bring home another championship. Those naysayers based their pessimism on the high percentage of graduating seniors from last year's squad, a lack of depth and the inexperience of a young team.

With the victory against Allegheny, however, Oberlin is in the same position as it was last year, when the team entered the quarterfinals as underdogs and wound up defeating Denison for the 1998 NCAC championship crown. The five-game winning streak has shown the Yeowomen to be the championship team it is capable of being. Let's hope that Oberlin can bring this momentum into their quarterfinal opener against Allegheny at home this Tuesday.