Mens
Soccer Silenced by OWU
by Benjamin Pred
Last
Saturday, Sept. 29, the Ohio Wesleyan University Bishops soundly
defeated the mens soccer team by the score of 3-0. Oberlin
followed this loss with another one on Wednesday, this time to the
Kenyon College Lords, by a somewhat tighter, but more surprising
score of 1-0. The two losses brought the Yeomens record to
1-7 overall and 0-3 in North Coast Athletic Conference play.
The loss to Ohio Wesleyan was not a huge surprise to the Yeomen,
as the Bishops are perennially the best soccer team in the NCAC,
and one of the best in the nation. Oberlin did not play badly; their
plan for a defensive strategy prevented several goals and was generally
well executed.
However,
a mistake by junior goalie Yoav Tal in the first half led to a goal
by Bishops Philip Hoffman, but Tal still had seven fine saves.
Pat McCurdy also scored a goal for OWU, as did Brett Dunlap in the
second half. The OWU goalie only had to make one save, as six of
the Yeomens shots bounced of the bars or went out of bounds.
Oberlin was out shot by a comparatively small measure, 11-7. Coach
New said that he was relatively pleased with his players
performance in that game.
However, the loss to Kenyon was another story entirely. The dual
shutouts were both disappointing for the Yeomen, but the loss to
Kenyon was particularly tough to take. In the words of Coach New,
It was a game we should have won.
This was one of those frustrating games that players wake up screaming
in the night about, the kind that coaches think about and grit their
teeth to. Though a one-zero loss in soccer is nothing to hang ones
head about, this was a game that the team will remember for quite
some time.
After six minutes and 43 seconds of playing time, Josh Chiavaroli
scored a goal for the Lords, and that was effectively the end of
the game.
In the second half Kenyon took up a defensive posture and allowed
the Yeomen to keep possession of the ball for three-quarters of
the rest of the game.
They sat back defensively and we just couldnt break
it, New said. Junior Rich Braithwaite had three shots on goal,
but was unable to send one home. Tal again played the whole game
and had a strong showing with six saves.
Though somewhat discouraged by the losses, the team looks to improve
their NCAC record and play to the best of their potential tomorrow
when they travel to Wittenberg at 2 p.m. The Yeomen return to home
action on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. against Allegheny (Pa.).
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