The Oberlin field hockey team lost a nail-biter against Wittenberg in a game that was decided by a sudden-death goal in overtime on Saturday, Sept. 23. In a roller-coaster of highs and lows, both opponents were neck and neck for the majority of the game.

Early on, the momentum was with Oberlin. Sophomore Abigail “Prunie” Brox found the back of the goal off a penalty-corner. The Tigers responded, tying the game, but Brox scored again before half, leaving Oberlin up 2-1 at half time.

The game heated up in the second half. Scoring the first two goals of the half, the Tigers found themselves ahead, 3-2, but only for twenty seconds. First-year Catherine Meredith evened the score at 3-3 off a feed from junior Ashley Allen. Only a minute and a half later, the Tigers would once again regain the lead, to make it 4-3.

With three goals scored in the span of two minutes, it felt like an eternity before Oberlin finally got back on the board. The Yeowomen scored when junior Christine Politis finished a penalty-corner from Allen, her sixth assist of the season. With no subs to provide relief for the fatigued Yeowomen, Oberlin fell in overtime after the Tigers’ Rachel Dunn scored the game winner with just under two minutes left.

Wittenberg made sure junior goalkeeper Lauren Malinowski had a busy day. She recorded 16 saves, as Oberlin was outshot 15-31. Brox had over half of them, with five of her eight shots being on goal. The Yeowomen continue to perform well despite playing without any subs.

In the face of these two losses that have come early in the NCAC Conference, senior captain Samantha Kyrkostas remains optimistic. “We are like a small family,” commented Kyrkostas with much enthusiasm. “What we are doing is exciting! Our freshman have really stepped up, and they are learning quickly.” In spite of the recent losses, Kyrkostas says that the team’s morale is high.

The field hockey team will play their next match against Kenyon College on Saturday at noon.