The Oberlin College men’s soccer team registered a 2-1 win last Saturday at home against Capital University, but lost their first conference game 3-2 on Tuesday when they hosted Denison University. The Yeomen’s record now stands at 6-4-1.
“I thought that we played well in both games and offensively we are starting to see the results from the work we are doing, [but we] still need to sharpen our running in the final third,” head coach Blake New said. “Our biggest problem right now is defensive organization in transition and when balls go to our flanks.”
Oberlin dominated the match against Capital but first-year goalkeeper Lincoln Smith still had to save a penalty to secure the win.
“To hold on to the game against Capital, after giving up a goal to make it 2-1, felt all right, although a shut out would have felt better,” Smith said.
“One player that has been a standout is Lincoln Smith,” first-year Josh Treuhaft said. “Although he does occasionally make freshman mistakes, he is doing a superb job in the pipes. Also, [sophomore] Max Hellerman is fantastic, he really makes things happen in midfield.”
Treuhaft has been coming off the bench for the Yeomen and adding firepower to the forward line.
Senior Richard Braithwaite scored his eighth goal of an increasingly prolific season off an assist from Jamie Davis. Junior Jesse Kipp settled the tie with his first goal of the season finishing a cross from junior Phil Kreniske. Senior Jay Rosenthal worked laboriously throughout the game.
Against Denison the Yeomen scored first after laying siege to the visiting team’s goal for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Richard Braithwaite scored an unassisted goal to put Oberlin up 1-0.
Denison replied quickly. They won a controversial free kick at the Yeomen 20-yard line and scored directly to equalize. Five minutes later Denison scored again to make the score 2-1 in their favor.
Hellerman deflected sophomore Mitchell Bartlett’s strike from the 20-yard line into the goal putting Oberlin back on level terms at 2-2. But Denison managed to snag a goal with 15 minutes left and held on for the victory.
“You can see the difference between conference and non-conference games in the two matches we had this week,” senior William Singer said. “Conference games against opponents like Denison are so competitive that mistakes are often the only difference between the teams. At the end of the season you might as well add up mistakes as wins and losses to find out who the best team in the conference is. The good news is that all the pieces are already in place. Our team is strong enough to battle against anyone we will meet.”
“The Denison game, however,” Smith said, “was a very frustrating game to lose. We played well, and held our own and to have them at 2-2 would have at least said something to the conference.”
“I think we are a good team that needs to focus more in crucial situations and learn how to finish games to be a great team,” New said. “Obviously I am not really happy about the start to conference play with a loss but it should prove to our guys that they are as good as anyone in the conference, because I felt we should have won the game against a team that just beat the number three team in the country.”
The Yeomen’s next game is at Wabash University tomorrow. Their next home game is against Hiram College on Saturday, Oct. 12.