The Chinese believe that seven represents Yin, Yang and the Five Elements. Some consider seven to be lucky because it’s God’s number. Apparently the Spartans also believe that because that’s how many wins the women’s team have.

The Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team extended their winning streak to seven when they defeated Ohio Northern University 3-1. Meanwhile the men’s team fell to John Carroll University 2-1, but bounced back to top Adrian College 2-1 in overtime. The women’s win made their United Soccer Coaches poll ranking rise to 13, tying for the highest the program has ever been ranked.

In their sole game this week, the women’s team struck first against the Polar Bears, with second-year Anika Washburn taking a shot, which was blocked, then a header that was too wide. First-year Merry Meyer also took two shots in the first half. However, one was saved by the opposing goalie, and the other was wide.  

Both teams did not score in the first half. First-year Laura Gorjanc lofted the ball off a corner kick to a trailing fourth-year forward Kimberly Chen, who chipped the ball over the goal’s reaching arms to take the lead for the Spartans. 

A foul by Ohio Northern allowed Washburn a free kick on the left hand side of the ten-yard line. Washburn drilled it into the goalie’s hands, who failed to catch it. Running past the defenders marking her, second-year Kat Rebele was there to head the ball back in, but it chipped off the top of the goal post. First-year Maia Sethi was there to put back the rebound for the second goal of the game. 

Needing to come back from the 2-0 deficit, Ohio Northern rushed a shot but it was saved by goalie Lauren Unterborn. Meyer tried to pass towards the goal but was intercepted by a defender. The defender marking her appeared to have injured herself, and Meyer took the open opportunity to drill the shot to ice the game. The precise placement towards the upper left side of the goal while curving took the opposing keeper off guard.

Chen comments on the team’s excellent performance this season “[UAA teams] better watch out for us, we haven’t been ranked or undefeated in past years … [we have] more depth and are more ready compared to previous years.”

For the men’s team, playing an away game against an undefeated team coming off a loss gave the Spartans all the extra drive to turn the tables. Like the women’s game, the first half was also scoreless. First-year Jackson Kallen got his first collegiate start at goalie and his impact was felt early, saving three goals in the first 17 minutes. The Spartans counterattacked but the opposing goalie managed to save two shots. 

Third-year Connor Webber’s corner kick to third-year Nathan Ekberg, who tried to receive it with a header fell through, as the header was a bit high. In the second half, fourth-year Zachary Senft was eager to take the lead, taking two shots but both were saved by the opposing goalie. Senft finally scored off a penalty kick for his first goal of the season. In the last two minutes, Adrian scored off a cross to even the score. Senft and fourth-year forward Garrett Winter continued to aggressively take shots in overtime, before Senft drilled the ball in for game off a Weber shot saved by the goalie. Kallen was excellent in his debut, recording six saves.  

The women’s team will face Kenyon College at home on Wednesday and is then going to John Carroll University on Sunday. The men’s team will travel to play Marietta College on Wednesday.