Lacrosse fights Ohio's worst for win

The men's lacrosse team won an ugly, tight battle with Northwood College on Thursday in the cold mist and mud of northern Ohio. To do it, they had to overcome not only the weather but also a first quarter deficit to win 9-7.

"It was the ugliest win we've had in a long time," said junior defenseman Michael Brown.

Oberlin, usually a physical defensive team, was on the receiving end of many big hits. After the quarter break, Oberlin was down 4-2.

Senior Ryan Kelley dominated Northwood with his five goal performance for the Yeomen. Through the next two quarters the Yeomen outplayed Northwood and accrued a 7-5 lead.

As the weather became colder, the Yeomen played sloppily. This enabled Northwood to score twice and tie the score with a few minutes to play.

Midfielder sophomore Sam Krasnow scored his second goal, a clutch tie-breaker, which gave the Yeomen the lead for good.

After another goal for good measure, the Yeomen were able to stifle Northwood's last futile attempt to score with little time remaining.

The team spent Spring Break in Oberlin and on the road chalking up a few victories.

They handily defeated St. Vincent College 16-4. The win was powered by Kelley's six-goal performance and helped by senior Tasker Gundy's three and Krasnow's two.

That victory was also spurred the first college goals of Yeomen sophomore Josh Gepner, junior Raphael Jacoby, first-years Marc Gilmore and Im Soo Kwak and Oberlin's dominant defense.

The Yeomen next lost 20-9 to Lords of Kenyon College.

The next opponent was Wittenberg, who had previously beaten the Yeomen 16-10. The Yeomen defense, led by junior David Kumpe, junior Michael Brown, first-year Ben Klein, and sophomore Chris Lavin, held Wittenberg to four goals, while the Yeomen racked up 10.

Controlling ground balls 67-29 was the key for the Yeomen, allowing Kelley and Gundy to score four each.

After break Oberlin faced Denison, the fourth-ranked team in the nation and played admirably.

Kelley was the Yeomen source of offense, and though double- and triple-teamed, scored five of the six goals of the day, in the 18-6 loss.

The Yeomen are now 3-3 and face Wooster again Wednesday.