Women’s Lax Gains Second Conference Victory
Senior Salvania Scores Five Goals in 11-5 Victory
BY IAN HAYNES

Senior MarySara Salvania scored five goals and junior Selena Kansal added three goals as Oberlin’s women’s lacrosse team defeated Allegheny College on Wednesday 11-5. The Yeowomen also played Wooster on April 11, but fell to their North Coast Athletic Conference foe 17-3. The win and the loss moved Oberlin’s record to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

(photo by unknown)

In Wednesday’s game against Allegheny, Oberlin jumped out in front early, taking a 9-1 lead into halftime. 
“We played a very aggressive first half and took a 9-1 lead into halftime. In the second half, they were aggressive and we didn’t match their intensity. I think we had a level of comfort going into the second half, but it would have been nice to have matched their intensity,” Assistant Coach Blake New said.
Oberlin was outscored in the second half 4-2, but it didn’t matter as they glided to an easy 11-5 victory and their second conference win of the season.
Salvania’s five goals and Kansal’s three scores were tops for both teams in the game. Senior Maya Leonard-Cahn added three assists in the win.
On Wednesday, Oberlin took on visiting Wooster College. The Yeowomen fell to their NCAC opponent 17-3 for their third loss in conference play. 
“I think that was the first time we have lost to Wooster in about 10 years,” New said, “but they have a good team and have an excellent shot at winning the conference this year.”

The Yeowomen managed only three goals in the game, one from Kansal, one from junior Laura Kent-Monning, and one from first-year Maggie Douglas. Lack of scoring has been a consistent problem for Oberlin this year.
“We lost two players who scored probably 90 percent of our goals last year,” New said. “We are averaging something like eight goals a game this year and you can’t just get by averaging a few goals a game.”
New went on to say that scoring 11-13 goals a game is what needs to be done to be competitive. In seven of their nine games this year the Yeowomen have been held under that number. 
Despite the lack of scoring, Oberlin has still been competitive this season, with five of their nine matches being decided by five goals or fewer. Included in that are a win over Redlands College from California 8-6 and a loss to NCAC opponent Wittenberg 7-6 in double overtime.
Oberlin will take on Colorado College at home on Saturday at 12 p.m. and plays NCAC opponent Denison on Tuesday at home. The Yeowomen will finish out the regular season on the road at Kenyon next Saturday. After that will be the conference championships on May 4-5.