Oberlin’s women’s soccer was dealt another blow on Saturday as they fell to the John Carroll University Blue Streaks in a very tough 0-1 match. This non-conference match was held in Cleveland at John Carroll’s Don Shula Stadium. The Blue Streaks scored in the 11th minute and held the lead for the remainder of the match.

Though Oberlin out-shot John Carroll 9-8 and forced their goalkeeper to make five saves, the Yeowomen were not able to capitalize on their chances, as they were held scoreless for the third game in succession. Sophomore goaltender Sarah Grabinski kept Oberlin alive with three saves.

Junior Leah McElhatton proved once again that she is a force to be reckoned with on the soccer field. McElhatton had two shots and managed to dominate any John Carroll players that came near her. “Leah worked her ass off,” said sophomore Christie Zelnik.

The game, telecasted on delay by the Ohio Sports Network, was a back and forth battle in which the Yeowomen possessed the ball, rather than simply kicking it into the corners of the field like their Blue Streak foes. Junior Joelle Sesar had another stellar performance as she lead the Yeowomen offensively with four shots.

Oberlin’s second match this week was against the Case Western Reserve University Spartans at home on September 17. To add heat to the contest, first-year Veronica Fusco came up against her twin sister Cecelia, a student at Case Western, an odd experience for fans who would be unable to tell the two apart if not for the different colored jerseys. 

Both teams were hard pressed throughout the game. After many chances on both sides, the Spartans struck in the 74th minute off of a one-on-one with Grabinski, leaving the sophomore with no chance and putting Case up 0-1 with 16 minutes left to play.

The Yeowomen battled back, but as they pushing forward looking for the equalizing goal, the Spartans scored again, effectively defending against the Oberlin pressure and escaping on a counterattack breakaway in the 86th minute that put the visitors ahead 0-2. Case ended up out-shooting Oberlin on the day 5-11, but three saves apiece from Zelnik and Grabinski kept the game in reaching distance for the Yeowomen.

When asked about the games, Sesar responded, “We are improving with each game. There are just a few little things we need to fix and we’ll start getting wins.” With the conference season fast approaching, the Yeowomen will look to tend to these details and prepare themselves for the always-tough Allegheny College, the first conference contest of the year, on September 26.

Although Allegheny will be on the minds of the Yeowomen, there is still one more non-conference match-up against Marietta College that the women cannot look past.