Womens
Soccer Loses to Heidelberg 2-1 in OT
Kanuchs Last Second Goal Not Enough for Win
by Rob Smith
After
having ten days off from their last game, the Oberlin Yeowomen soccer
team took the field on gloomy Tuesday Sept. 18 afternoon to face
the ladies of Heidelberg College.
The 10 day layoff did not help us. There are just some things
that you cant work on in practice; you need to play games
to get better, Head Coach Jane Wildman said.
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Move
Out of the Way Blondie: Sophomore Mara Brecht weaves
through the opposition. (photo by David Sinden)
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The Yeowomen have been playing excellent defense all year and this
trend continued in the game at hand. First-year goalie Alison Palmer
continues to play beyond her years. We have three really good
goalies on this team. Its day to day on whos going to
start but we know whoever plays will do well, Wildman said.
At halftime the two teams took a break with a 0-0 tie. It was not
until late in the second half with 4:53 remaining that the Heidelberg
women were able to get the ball past Palmer. Time kept going by
with no other goals scored. Palmer was fantastic, but Heidelberg
goalie Julia Rose was playing a pretty good game herself.
As the clock was winding down, senior Becky Kanuch, who did not
start, came through in the clutch. With 33 seconds left in regulation,
Kanuch got the ball by Rose and tied up the game 1-1. Sophomore
Sarah Kipp assisted Kanuch on the play.
Beckys an amazing player. Shes done the last second
game winning or tying goal before in her Oberlin career. When she
flicks on the switch she can do anything, Wildman said. The
Yeowomen were not about to let an excellent defensive performance
by Palmer be ruined in regulation. When the final seconds of regulation
ticked off the clock, the ladies were still knotted at one apiece.
That meant overtime.
Overtime in college soccer is a sudden death 15-minute period. Basically,
the first person to score wins. The overtime period was going by
just like the rest of the game. After the first nine minutes, a
winner still had not been determined. With 5:44 left in overtime,
Heidelbegs Anna Ducey left the Yeowomen with a bad feeling
in their stomachs. On a corner kick, Molly Thorton assisted her
for the game-winning goal.
The Yeowomen played a great game only to suffer a tough loss. Palmer,
unfortunately, ended the game with the loss, but that does not take
away her great effort. She made 11 saves on the day, doubling her
season average of 5 saves per game. Her season total is up to 31
saves.
The Yeowomen fought hardMara Brecht and Courtney Stackhouse
both broke through the Heidelberg defense to each take 4 shots on
goal, but Stackhouse had a rough game. Wildman said, They
[Heidelberg] knew she was our goal scorer, and they marked her.
Being signaled out like that is certainly a signal of respect that
Stackhouse can take away from a tough loss Stackhouse said
of the loss, Its definately harder than losing in regulation.
Kipp, Tessa Stevens, and Ellie Fitzpatrick all added two shots on
goal of their own. One of the stars of the defense for the Yeowoman
all year has been Leah Frederickson. Frederickson played her heart
out on Tuesday and in the end had to leave the game with an ankle
sprain.
The
girls will regroup and now prepare for their first conference match-up
of the season as they host the Ladies of Kenyon College on Saturday,
Sept. 22. at 1 p.m. They also play on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 1pm against
La Roche College. When we play as a team, and everybodys
focused, we can play with anybody, Wildman said.
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