Another one bites the dust

The women's soccer team took a couple of tough hits this week. On Saturday they lost 2-0 to conference rival Wittenburg University, and on Wednesday they dropped a 6-1 contest at the hands of Tiffin College.

Saturday was a surprisingly beautiful day filled with warm sunshine, clear blue skies and a field fit for a rumble. The stands and sidelines were packed with anxious fans and proud parents. The women warmed up on one end while the Wittenburg Wildcats prepared on the other. Wittenburg scored an early goal in the first half, but this didn't discourage Oberlin from playing their game. Every moment was an equally fought battle. The headers, traps, crosses, dribbling and scoring attempts were enough to keep some fans on the edge of their seats and others jumping around and yelling with excitement.

With the Yeowomen down by a goal entering the second half, they had to fight hard to even the score. Though they battled to the end, their many assaults on the Wildcat goal went unsuccessful. The Wittenberg tallied again in the second half, ending the game with a 2-0 victory.

"I felt like we played well," said head coach Jane Wildman. "We actually out shot them which is good. We controlled a lot of play, but we were unable to finish. Overall I'm pleased. Things just didn't go our way."

"I think Saturday was our best game because everybody was helping each other, covering each other and checking to get the pass," said senior captain Katy Durham-Hammer. "They got a couple of breaks on us. We had hundreds of opportunities to score, but we just didn't put it in. Overall, it was a good team effort. We have really accomplished something in the first half of the season. We've learned to really play together," she said.

Wednesday's game challenged the Yeowomen with adverse weather conditions. Mother nature flooded the area with heavy thunderstorms. The game looked as if it would be canceled do to the ugly conditions, but instead the game was delayed for forty five minutes. "It was really messy. The weather conditions were horrible. It was just really tough," said Wildman. Sadly, the Yeowomen not only had the torrential weather as an obstacle, but the loss of sophomore goalie Julie Noyes to injury as well.

"Our goal keeper was out with a knee injury, so Josie Ferrell filled in for her at a moment's notice which was really courageous," said Durham-Hammer. "We had Josie in goal. She was very courageous and impressive," Wildman added.

"The weather was wet and cold. The ball was slipping and it skidded across the field. We never seemed to get control of it completely," said sophomore Becky Kanuch.

The game started off in favor of Oberlin. Senior Maya Skutel kick-started the Yeowomen with an early goal, assissted by Kanuch.

"We started off the game with a beautiful goal. Becky passed it to Maya and then Maya had a beautiful shot into the upper ninety," said Durham-Hammer.

After the first goal Tiffin stepped up and scored five goals in the first half. "We started off really good. We scored early and I don't know what happened next," said Kanuch. "We just didn't seem to click any more. The other team knew how to move the ball around us, and we just couldn't seem to get the ball."

In the second half Oberlin pulled it together and held Tiffin to only one goal in the second half. The game ended with Tiffin cruising to a 6-1 win. "We had some good individual effort, but the conditions were just too difficult. We played better in the second half, only giving up one goal." said Wildman.

"They were really fast. We needed to sort some things out on defense. Overall, I don't feel really bad about it. It was just one of those days. Not really a good soccer day," said Durham-Hammer. "I always feel really good about our coaching staff. They have been really fair, encouraging and positive so I feel really good going into the last eight games."

The women's soccer team will have only one more home game. It will take place on Saturday Oct. 9 at noon against Ohio Wesleyan University.

Diamonds on the soles of her shoes: The Yeowomen dropped two tough contests this past week to Wittenberg and Tiffin, but hope to redeem themselves when they battle with the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops on Saturday, Oct. 9. (photo by Brian Hodgkin)