For
Womens Lax, First Win is Sweet
by Ian Haynes
The
Oberlin College womens lacrosse team got their first taste
of victory as they defeated the University of Puget Sound (Wash.)
8-2 to close out their spring break trip, after a season-opening
loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania and two losses in California.
The win, and a loss at Denison this past Wednesday, moved Oberlins
record to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.
I
think that our team really gelled in that game because at the beginning
of the week, we had a couple of rough games. After having lost a
couple of strong players, with newcomers playing new positions,
we played extremely well, senior Laura Kent-Monning said of
the teams victory at the University of Puget Sound.
With
a young and relatively inexperienced team, the Yeowomen have relied
on an array of underclassmen to support the two sole upperclassmen,
Kent-Monning and junior Briana Quinn. Sophomore Maggie Douglas and
first-year Anna Ialeggio have provided much needed scoring while
sophomore Alexis Stoller, the goalkeeper last season, has been asked
to move out of the net and help man the defense. First-year Sarah
Pilzer has stepped into goal and played every minute in the first
five games.
The
Yeowomen traveled to neighboring Pennsylvania to take on Division
II opponent IUP on March 16. Oberlin fell in the season opener 19-6,
but the game did have its bright spots. After a first half in which
many of the first-years undoubtedly had butterflies in their stomachs,
the Yeowomen came out and played a solid second half. Senior Selena
Kansal, who is no longer with the team, scored the only goal for
the Yeowomen in the first half. In the second half, though, Ialeggio
got the scoring started for Oberlin with her first collegiate goal.
Douglas followed with two more goals before first-year Victoria
Clark got in on the action with her first goal. Douglas added one
more goal to end the Yeowomens scoring. Pilzer recorded 27
saves in her first game in goal for Oberlin.
On
March 24, the Yeowomen battled Whittier University in the first
game of their California spring break trip. Oberlin fell in a heart
breaker 5-4. After taking a 3-2 lead into the half, the Yeowomen
managed just one goal in the second half. Douglas scored a goal
and had an assist while Ialeggio scored her second goal of the season.
Kent-Monning and Quinn both scored a goal in the loss. In the net,
Pilzer tallied 13 saves.
Two days later on March 26, Oberlin took on host school, the University
of Redlands. The Yeowomen managed just three goals in the game,
falling 12-3. Scoring for Oberlin were Kent-Monning, Douglas and
Clark. Pilzer had 16 saves in the game.
In
their last game in California the Yeowomen took on University of
Puget Sound from Washington State. The Yeowomen easily handled their
opponents, winning by a score of 8-2. Kent-Monning played an outstanding
game, scoring four of Oberlins eight goals. Ialeggio tossed
in two goals while Clark and Douglas each added one. Quinn racked
up an assist on Kent-Monnings last goal. Pilzer stopped 17
shots in goal while holding Puget Sound to a mere two goals.
After
the two losses, it was really good how we rallied together as a
team to get the win before coming back to Oberlin, Quinn said.
Everyone played well, especially with it being such a young
team.
Most
recently, the Yeowomen traveled to Denison to compete in their first
NCAC game. After a competitive first half with the Big Red, Oberlin
struggled in the latter half, finally falling 12-4. Ialeggio again
scored two goals for the Yeowomen while Kent-Monning and Douglas
each added one. Clark and Ialeggio each had one assist in the game.
Pilzer stopped 15 shots in the loss.
Douglas
is the leader in points scored through the first five games with
eight. Kent-Monning and Ialeggio each have seven. Douglas and Kent-Monning
are tied for the lead in goals with seven while Ialeggio has six
and Clark has three. Pilzer has 88 saves on the season and a .638
save percentage. First-year Andrea Hawkins leads in ground balls
controlled with 15 followed by Stoller with 13 and Quinn with 12.
Sophomores Chelsea Wallis and Susie Armitage and first-years Annie
Gaus, Allison Evans, and Yukiko Shishikura have contributed high
minute totals for the Yeowomen.
The
team will take on Wittenberg in Springfield, Ohio this Saturday.
Channing
Joseph contributed to this report.
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