Sudden-death ties up Yeowomen

The bumper sticker reads "Soccer players do it for 90 minutes." Well the Yeowomen did it for 120.

After thirty minutes of sudden-death over time, the women's soccer team tied with John Carroll University Wednesday, opening their season with slight disappointment but keeping the door wide open for hope.

In the first half of regulation time, Oberlin and John Carroll battled at fairly even levels staying in the midfield. Oberlin's diamond defense handled any offensive pressure from John Carroll for 85 good minutes.

Goal keepers first-year Julie Noyes and senior Katy Hansen protected the goal from the few breaks fast breaks John Carroll had.

"Julie had some excellent saves that really kept us in the game and Katy Hansen made a great save tipping the ball over the bar," Coach Blake New said.

But with only five minutes left, John Carroll scored its first goal. "Normally when a team scores that late it's over," New said.

Senior Sarah Allen explained John Carroll's goal. "We were flat on defense and one person was way outside the goal. She had a big floater."

But the Yeowomen kept their composure and turned on the offensive pressure. Senior Lisa Novins had a great shot on goal late in the second half, hitting the crossbar. Shaking it off and keeping up the intensity, Novins had a fast break down the side line and with approximately 18 seconds left in the game, crossed it in to forward Maia Skutel who booted it in the net tying the game.

"The first match is always difficult. But playing for 120 minutes the first time out is not that fun," New said.

Exhausted, the Yeowomen pressed on for the nerve-wracking soccer tradition of sudden death overtime. The game remained tied for the first 15 minute half of overtime and the Yeowomen failed to score in the remaining half of overtime.

"Sudden death is a balancing act between trying to win and trying to not lose. You have to gamble but you have to be real safe," Junior Katie Durham-Hammer said.

The game ended as a 1-1 tie.

The team this year has a new look to it. With 11 first-year students on the roster and three in starting positions, the team could easily be called young. But veteran returnees such as Allen said the team has a deep bench.

"This is one of the best Oberlin soccer teams in a long time," Allen said.

"It's an interesting dynamic," New said. "There are so many young players so our season will depend on how quick the learning curves are."

The Yeowomen will play at Capital Tuesday and will play their first home game against Baldwin Wallace Sept. 15.