After a 0-3 start to the 2006 season, the women’s soccer team was adamant on beginning this year with a bang. After a week into non-conference play, the Yeowomen are 1-1-1.

With a new head coach and ten incoming first- years, little was known as to how quickly the team would gel, especially after the team’s star defender and forward graduated last spring. The Yeowomen showed their potential in a preseason scrimmage against Heidelberg College, winning 1-0.

The promotion of assistant head coach Kristen Hayden followed the departure of former head coach Andy Nelson.  Having coached under Nelson for one season, Hayden was the strongest candidate to help lead the Yeowomen to the next level. Former women’s head coach, Jane Wildman, returns to the team as an assistant coach after working as a senior athletics administrator.

While the Yeowomen have a wealth of first-year talent, they also have a strong core of returning players. Senior co-captains Jess Greenberg and Leslie Mills will help anchor the midfield and defense, respectively. The Yeowomen lost senior co-captain Sarah Kotcon to an ACL injury.

Junior forward Joelle Sesar will lead the Yeowomen attack, while sophomore midfielder Kate Berry-Millett will hope to have another superb season after leading the team with five goals last season. Juniors Betsy Leach, Caitlin Milford and Bret Nolan will add offensive firepower while sophomore goalkeepers Christie Zelnik and Sarah Grabinski will compete for the number one spot.

The Yeowomen began the 2007 campaign with a bang, defeating Manchester College 3-0 in the first game of the Tri-State Tournament in Indiana on August 31. Oberlin played well on both ends of the field. Sesar scored a goal in each half while Leach grabbed a goal in the second half. Greenberg and first-year Ameilia Jarvinen each had an assist. Oberlin had a strong team defensive performance capped by Zelnik’s six saves between the posts.

While the Yeowomen played well, they could not emulate their performance the following day against Marian College on Sept. 1. Marian came out fast and dominated the first half, outshooting Oberlin 10-1 and grabbing two goals within a minute of each other. The Yeowomen had a better second half but were unable to break Marian’s resistance. Grabinski kept Oberlin in the game with nine saves.

On Sept. 5, Oberlin traveled to Pennsylvania to play Washington and Jefferson. Despite being outshot 14-5, Oberlin had another strong defensive game, battling through 90 minutes and two overtime periods to earn a 0-0 tie. Zelnik earned her second shutout of the season, racking up four saves.

Oberlin’s impressive start has been attributed to strong defense and solid play from the first-years. First-years Lois Immerman, Abby Laman-Maharg, Veronica Fusco and Katy Holihan have stepped up and played significant minutes.

With games coming thick and fast and the conference season beginning in three weeks, the Yeowomen will hope to continue their good form to improve upon last year’s 6-12 record.