Women's soccer splits pair of home 2-0 contests

Team keeps record above .500, though it drops conference opener

The women's soccer team split its two games for the second week in a row. But this week, the loss came against a team the Yeowomen felt they were capable of beating.

The first game was a 2-0 victory over Marietta College on Saturday. The second match was a 2-0 conference loss to Allegheny College.

The split brought the Yeowomen's record to 3-2.

Playing in the mud and rain Saturday, the Yeowomen clung to a 1-0 lead for most of the game. In the fourteenth minute of the game, first-year Emily Henry scored her first Oberlin goal off a rebound of junior Katherine Roberts' blocked shot.

On a shot from Marietta, the ball slipped through goal junior Alysia Oakley's hands and over her head. Oakley spun around and grabbed the ball on her second chance, inches from the goal-line, preserving the Yeowomen shutout.

Sophomore Lisa Novins played well in the attack setting up a lot of scoring opportunities, and the defense played an excellent game, consistently sending the ball out of Oberlin territory.

With nine minutes left in the game, junior Alina Potrzebowski put the game away with a rocket from 30 yards making the score 2-0.

"We played well, but we didn't finish well," head coach Blake New said. The team is practicing putting the ball into the back of the net.

In their first conference match the Yeowomen were shutout by Allegheny. The loss against Allegheny broke up a two-game winning streak for the Yeowomen.

"That team was a good team, but we needed to step it up, and forget about our past wins," sophomore Nicole James said. Allegheny controlled the ball for most of the game, especially in the midfield. They were a little faster, and with 31 players in uniform, they were well rested. "Allegheny was not a better team," captain senior Mikylah Myers said.

"The loss was extra disappointing, because we were on a roll," first-year Erin Williamson said. "It was our first conference game."

Even in the loss, certain players shined. James played well both as a defender and forward.

"If it hadn't been for her and Oakley, the score would have been 6-0," Williamson said.

Sophomore Rachel Maguire also stepped it up on defense and Myers played well as a center midfielder.

The Yeowomen began the game shorthanded. A knee injury prevented captain senior Camille Macpherson from stepping onto the field.

In the second half, sweeper Williamson left the game with an injured leg, which had been bothering her throughout the game. She will be out for at least one more game. Nonchalant, Williamson has developed a habit of chewing gum while she waits for attackers to try to get the ball past her. "Erin's pretty all-around awesome," Myers said. "When you give the ball back to Erin, she gives it back with a purpose. She's an excellent distributor."

The loss of Williamson forced first-year Karen Bradley to step into the position of sweeper.

The team remains optimistic that they will be competitive in the conference. "We will learn what we need to learn," Myers said. "We need to work more as a team and have heighten communication on the field," Myers said. "But we are getting good at shaping ourselves on the field."

The Yeowomen have four games in the next eight days. The Yeowomen open the week by hosting Mount St. Joseph College on Saturday and meeting Ohio Northern College on Tuesday.

Blowing in the WindJunior Katherine Roberts(right) chases down a ball in Wednesday's loss Allegheny College. The Yeowomen are in the middle of a four-game homestand(photo by Cristina Rudden)