The Observer, September 29, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 5
Coakley scores first in win over Oberlin
Click. That's the sound of success for the Lady Spartans soccer team. Click. That's the sound of one goal. Click. That's the sound of another. Boom! That's the sound the Spartans have awaited at home, exploding them out of their two-game slump with a shutout against Oberlin College this past Wednesday.
From the start, the Spartans looked fierce. They put on the offensive pressure early, getting three corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of play. They were not able to convert the first two, but third time was the charm for the Spartans as freshman mid-fielder Katie Coakley sneaked the ball past the keeper to score the first goal of her collegiate career.
"I couldn't believe it at first," said Coakley excitedly. "All I could think was 'holy [expletive] I scored a goal!'" That first goal set the tone for the rest of the half, hounding Oberlin's defense.
The Spartans were tough, winning a majority of the balls in the air, and working hard in the mid-field. This allowed the team to focus on getting the ball outside to the corner for some great cross and slot opportunities, adding four more shots on goal. This compared to the Kenyon game in which only one shot was taken during the first half.
At the end of 45 minutes, Case was in the lead, 1-0, but Coach Emily Donovan was not content. The halftime speech laid out the goals for the next half.
"We knew they would step up the speed of play as well as the level of intensity, so we would have to match it," Donovan said. "The team knew 1-0 couldn't hold out the whole game."
With that in mind, the team headed off into the second half of play. Eager to add another to the scoreboard, the team attempted four shots in the first 10 minutes of play but to no avail. Oberlin had the chance to tie the score in the 59th minute with a one-on-one going to goal, but the shot went wide of the post. From then on it was clear whose game it really was. Case's defense worked hard to keep the ball out of their half in a continuous feed to the forwards.
The final goal of the game came with 10 minutes to go on a shot from junior Bridget Mason. The ball was perfectly placed by freshman Katie Fromwiller, who played with battle wounds from a previous game. Stitches and all, Fromwiller didn't back down, carrying the ball to the top of the 18. With a small touch inside to Mason, the ball was placed in the lower left corner of the net, securing the win for the Spartans.
Even with key players out with injuries, the team was able to make it work.
"We really connected well through the center considering [senior] Andrea Newman, our main contributor in the center and captain, wasn't able to play," junior Liz Altenau said.
What was a concern against Kenyon was no longer after Wednesday night's effort; the team finally showed its adaptability.
"It was a true team effort. With the injuries, everyone had to step it up to get this win," Donovan said.
It seems that the Spartans are on the right track now as they head into UAA play this weekend against Brandeis. The team returns home Oct. 3 to play Allegheny College under the lights, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
