Field hockey falls to top-ranked Denison

Who doesn't like the story of David and Goliath? The underdog winning out over a clearly superior opponent via determination, strategy and heart - what's not to love? Unfortunately, Goliath was triumphant this past weekend as Oberlin's field hockey squad was unable to fell still undefeated Denison University.

In last Saturday's in-conference matchup, the Yeowomen came on strong but could not quite match the speed and force of their most formidable rival to date. The Big Red's

powerhouse offense bombarded Oberlin sophomore goalkeeper Pam Walker with 27 shots on goal. To Walker's credit, the conference leaders were only able to convert on three of those attempts. Denison scored once in the first half and twice in the second to hand OC another difficult loss.

The game dropped Oberlin's record to 3-6 overall (3-5 in conference) and maintained Denison's undefeated NCAC ranking at 7-0 (8-3 overall).

The Yeowomen's expectations going into the Denison game varied from player to player, but fear was evidently not part of the equation. "We knew that Denison was the best in the conference," first-year Christina Congleton said. "[But] everyone has the ability to beat everyone [in the NCAC]. They didn't overpower us."

In fact, Oberlin executed several promising drives during the course of the game, including an impressive last-ditch effort. "We finished the game with a fast break towards Denison's goal," head coach Heather Graham said, empha

sizing that Denison's level of play required more effort than usual from the Yeowomen, who proved to be worthy opponents.

"Denison forced us to pick up our game," said Graham, stressing OC's ability to maintain a tight passing game despite the strength of the opposition. "I was actually quite pleased with what we were able to do."

This idea of parity within the conference has been a common belief among OC players and coaches alike since the season began. No team is seen as unbeatable. Nevertheless, Congleton did acknowledge a particular strength that enabled the Big Red to defeat Oberlin. "They had great defenders. They kept [the ball] out of the circle really well."

"They've mastered getting the ball in the cage," first-year Chaney Stewman commented on Denison's offensive game. She was referring to a skill that has somewhat eluded the Yeowomen despite their continuing emphasis on scoring during practice and pre-game drills. "I think that as a team we want to get more goals."

As the season reaches its halfway point, Oberlin continues to pursue new tactical possibilities while reinforcing the strategies that have worked thusfar. Several weeks ago, the OC squad rearranged its starting line, which formerly called for a 4-3-2 formation: three forwards plus a designated go-to player on offense; three midfielders; and two defenders. But the plan didn't go as smoothly as expected. "The midfield was getting too cramped," said Stewman. The solution was to move one player from midfield to defense. This new 4-2-3 line offers not only the benefits of more extensive goal coverage but also a less cluttered midfield, in which the Yeowomen can continue to improve their passing game. It also focuses attention on the wings, or sides, of the midfield, which Oberlin players commonly use to their advantage during offensive drives. In this way, a strategic decision that strengthens the Yeowomen's defense has indirectly improved their offensive game, giving the midfield a chance to move the ball more quickly toward the attackers and 'cherry-picker' [ed. note- the above mentioned 'go-to player'].

As Oberlin looks ahead to this Friday's rematch at Wittenberg, the team they defeated 2-1 at home in the season opener, one factor springs immediately to the fore. Wittenberg, unlike most NCAC teams, plays its home games on turf as opposed to grass. "It's a much cleaner game and a much faster one," said Graham. Stewman agreed: "Wittenberg is turf, and that's a really fast-paced game... The ball rolls a lot faster."

How to prepare for this change of scenery? According to Congleton, practice on the indoor tennis courts should do the trick. "Everyone's excited to play on turf," she said. Sophomore Emily Johnson is also looking forward to playing Wittenberg. "Last year we were a pretty good team on turf," she said. "A lot of the players have past experience on [it]." She also noted that Oberlin had a 2-1 record in 1998 on non-grass surfaces.

According to Coach Graham, if the second half of the season finds the Yeowomen as enthusiastic as the first, she'll be more than satisfied. "I'm lucky in that everyone who's on the team wants to be a better hockey player," she said. Indeed, if attitude is half the battle, the Yeowomen should be starting every drive at midfield. "I guess our focus is just to play as well as we possibly can," Stewman said with Oberlin's trademark positive attitude.

The Yeowomen's next home game - against Kenyon College, a team they recently defeated in double overtime - will take place October 14 at 4 p.m.