The Oberlin Review
<< Front page Sports April 20, 2007

First-Years Making a Difference
 
Rocking Like a Hurricane: Quad-captain Jesse Kane pummels a Medaille player during Oberlin Men’s Lacrosse 18-9 demolition of Medaille College. 

During the course of the season, what has become increasingly obvious to the Oberlin men’s lacrosse team are the contributions of the Yeomen’s first-year attackers Nick Sherman, Alex “Edge” Jacobs and Erik Strand. Combined, the three have amassed a total of 53 goals and 16 assists for 69 points.

“We’re working towards perfection but we have a long ways to go,” Sherman said about himself and his fellow classmates Jacobs and Strand.

Their impeccable play has helped keep the offense rolling, and watching the three of them as a single unit is like watching a fine-tuned automobile in motion: everything clicks as goals pour into the opposing team’s goal.

Discussing the role of Strand and Jacobs in his and the team’s success, Sherman only had praise as he attributed his success on the field to both of them. “They are awesome teammates and totally constructed individuals who are intelligent and know the game; they are a pleasure to play with. They are the reason why I look good on paper right now.”

Over the past two games, a win against Medaille College 18-9 and a loss to Washington & Jefferson 8-10, Sherman, Strand and Jacobs pitched in for 17 of the Yeolaxers’ 26 goals.

According to sophomore defender Erik Kojola, the three freshman “have been performing well, stepped up and really helped turn around the offense. They have been productive and adjusted well to the college game.”

Personally, Sherman wants to “get stronger” as well as “get as many assists as goals in the seasons to come.”

Against Medaille, Oberlin grabbed the lead in the first quarter and never again let it slip away, scoring five goals to establish dominance in front of family on Lacrosse Parents’ Weekend.

Another five goals in the second quarter would essentially put the contest to bed, as senior Bryan Harfenist scored his third of the game to give him a hat trick in just less than 25 minutes of play.

The second half of play gave the Yeomen a little scare as Medaille mounted a late comeback in the fourth quarter making the contest a little more interesting at the end with a score of 9-14, but two goals apiece from Sherman and Strand ended any dreams Medaille had of coming back to give the Yeolaxers the win.

Washington & Jefferson, on the other hand, presented the Yeomen with a battle that raged back and forth throughout the entirety of the contest.

Down 4-7 to begin the fourth quarter, the Presidents retaliated to every Oberlin advance with a goal to keep them up three until the final moments of the game. The game ended in a heartbreaking loss for the Yeomen as Washington & Jefferson put three more in to close out their scoring for the match.

The Yeomen look to get back to winning ways on April 22 against Fontbonne University at 1 p.m. this Sunday on Dill Field.


 
 
   

Powered by