Women's soccer and Wittenberg keep each other scoreless

After overtime game, Oberlin's record slips to 4-5-2; team tries to relax for matches

The women's soccer game against Wittenberg College, Saturday ended in a 0-0 tie, when Sophomore Rachel Maguire's shot from the top of the penalty box veered right with 12 seconds left in overtime.

The Yeowomen left Wittenberg with their heads up and a 4-5-2 overall record, 1-3-1 among NCAC teams.

The Yeowomen played at an equal level of skill with Wittenberg, a perrenial women's soccer powerhouse, for 120 minutes. They even edged out Wittenberg in shots taken, 13-12.

Last year, Wittenberg shut out Oberlin 3-0, and two years ago, Wittenberg crushed the Yeowomen 11-1.

This year's game was different. "One team was not better than the other. The game was just two good teams playing good soccer," Maguire said.

The Yeowomen not only kept their game faces on for the 90 minutes of regulation, but stayed focused for the 30 minutes of overtime.

The Yeowomen had several chances to put something in the net, especially on their corner kicks. On the defensive end, goalkeeper junior Alicia Oakley had four saves, and the defenders managed to pull Wittenberg offsides three or four times.

"It sort of became a scramble at the end," Maguire said, but neither team was able to score.

Sophomore Lisa Novins had one of the best chances to put something on the scoreboard, when a ball dropped on her left foot and she couldn't muster enough power on the ball to put it past the keeper.

"I felt that we had better chances," coach Blake New said. "It was unfortunate that we didn't come out on top."

Willimgton, Wooster, and Wittenberg have been the best teams the Yeowomen have played. They lost to Willmington 6-1 in their second game and Wooster 3-0 in their eighth game.

"Everyone played very well. We didn't make any real bad mistakes. We played 120 minutes without making a bad mistake. That's rare," New said. "When we did make a mistake they couldn't capitalize, because we recovered."

Though there was no victory for the Yeowomen, they still see the game as a success.

"It's the first time in my life that I am satisied with a tie," first-year Erin Williamson said.

With a tie against Wittenberg and a win last week at Case, the team's second half of the season has thus far been a success. After playing below their skill level in several of their earlier games, New instigated a second season, looking at the rest of the season as a separate schedule.

"We are focused on the second half of our season, trying to gain some respect," first-year Karen Bradley said. "We have a very talented team."

The team visualized how they would play in the game last Friday after mediating with the field hockey team and its coach, Mindy Manolovich.

The Yeowomen have had an easy week. With only one game to play, the team didn't practice Monday or Tuesday. Tuesday, the team traveled to watch New's alma mater, Cleveland State, play men's Division I soccer.

Saturday the Yeowomen host Defiance College. Next Wednesday the team travels to Denison College. The team plays four more games over fall break and the following week.

Setting up: The women's soccer team against Earlham. (photo by Matt Sewell)