This past weekend the Oberlin College women’s soccer team fought hard through consecutive day games to emerge victorious in their first home game doubleheader of the year.

The Sept. 9 game against Hanover College began with a bang for the Yeowomen, with first-year Abby Chazanow scoring 18 minutes into the game. First-year Kate Millett followed Chazanow’s lead, scoring a second goal within the first half.

The second half brought the Yeowomen even more success. Senior Sam Schongalla scored early on to bring the score up to 3-0 for the Oberlin side. The Hanover Panthers struggled to compete with Oberlin’s offensive line, which successfully kept the ball on the opposite side of the field for the majority of the second half.

However, Hanover succeeded in slipping one shot past the Yeowomen in the 65th minute. In response to this goal, the Yeowomen stepped up their offensive. Schongalla returned with her second goal of the game, an enviable and unstoppable shot to the upper left corner of the net. Millett scored the final goal of the game in the last three minutes, sealing the team’s victory with a final score of 5-1.

Coming off this victory, the Yeowomen entered their second game of the weekend excited and confident. Coach Andy Nelson was a great help in keeping them focused and not overly confident in the wake of their victory. The Sept. 10 game against the Thomas More Saints was a shutout, with a final score of 2-0.

The first 19 minutes of the first half were a stop-and-go display of offensive and defensive skill on both team’s parts.

Sophomore Joelle Sesar finally ended the tiring game of back and forth by scoring the first goal by outmaneuvering a Saints player in a one-on-one showdown.

The second goal was scored 26 minutes into the second half by Schongalla. First-year goalkeeper Christie Zelnik played an impressive game, as proven by the final score and her five notable saves.

Zelnik was aided by an incredibly skilled defensive line that consisted of Millet, sophomore Ariel Kahrl and junior Sarah Kotcon.

Kotcon reflected on the Team’s performance this weekend:

 “I am very encouraged. After a less than stellar start in California,” she said. “I think we really stayed focused and played together last weekend. That’s really what we’re working on this season, playing as a team and being very aware of each other’s abilities and contributions to the team.”

This weekend’s victories brought the Yeowomen’s seasonal record to 2-3. Their next game is at home on Sept 13. They will be playing Lake Erie College at 4:30 p.m.