The Oberlin Review
<< Front page Sports March 14, 2008

'Fearless Five' Debut in Well-Played Women's Lacrosse Game

When most people think of college athletes, they assume that these people were the best players of their sport in high school. Even at Oberlin, where none of the players on the varsity rosters have received athletic scholarships (Division III schools are not allowed to offer athletic scholarships), the vast majority played a major role on their varsity teams in high school. Many even received all-conference or all-state honors prior to arriving on Oberlin’s campus.

This is not so on the women’s lacrosse team. Deb Ranieri, the head coach, was faced with a challenge this year as she realized that she wouldn’t have enough players. In a tough situation, Ranieri searched campus for players to fill the roster.

Five players on the team this year never played lacrosse before joining the team. Many of them played other sports in the past, or are currently on another Oberlin team, but were unfamiliar with this up-and-coming sport until recently. “Having the opportunity to pick up a totally new sport and play at the varsity college level is a pretty unique and exciting experience,” said Oberlin basketball player and sophomore Emily Finkel.

Sophomore Kayla Brandt said it was hard but rewarding, explaining, “It’s been really difficult trying to learn a new sport, but I am learning to appreciate how athletes feel when they are first starting out.”

The fearless five are Brandt, Finkel, juniors Maggie Casey and Kira Rivera and sophomore Rosanne Alexandre-Leach.  Brandt, Finkel, Casey and Rivera have all been on the women’s basketball team at Oberlin, so they are familiar with collegiate athletics, but were still strangers when they first set foot on the lacrosse field. “The lacrosse field is like the size of six basketball courts or something,” said Finkel.

The team competed in its first game of the season on Wednesday, March 12 at Adrian College in Adrian, MI.

Prior to the game, those new to the sport had a few concerns. “Even though I am excited to play, I’m scared of getting checked a lot and hit in the hand, and I’m not too excited to wear a funny little skirt outside in the cold,” said Casey.

Oberlin trailed for the whole game, at times by as much as six. However, the determined Yeowomen managed to keep crawling back and they only lost by one point. The final score was 17-18.

Strong individual performances in the game showed great promise for the Yeowomen this season. First-year Taylor Fey of Raymond, ME led the Yeowomen with eight goals and three assists. The fearless five also made great strides in their debut, rattling the other team by causing turnovers.

Returning players and seniors Beth Gula and Kaitlin Barrer and sophomores Caroline Walsh and Scarlett Prati all made it onto the scoreboard as well. Barrer, Walsh and Gula all had two goals, while Prati scored a hat trick with three.

The Yeowomen will face their next test tomorrow at Marymount University.


 
 
   

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