Box Score Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College men's soccer team opened the 2014 season with a convincing 4-0 win over the visiting University of Mount Union Purple Raiders on Saturday night.
With the victory the Yeomen extended their home-unbeaten streak to 10 matches dating back to the home finale of the 2012 season. The Yeomen went 6-0-2 on their home pitch in 2013.
The Yeomen controlled the run of play throughout the opening stanza and broke through in the 16
th minute on a
Sam Winward goal. The senior was initially shut off in the middle of the box, but created space on the outside before sending a strike to the lower left corner of the cage.
Just moments later the Yeomen had another promising chance as
Slade Gottlieb was left alone in the middle and sent a piercing strike from 35 yards out that was tracked down by Mount Union keeper Dylan Lias.
Oberlin would ultimately take a 2-0 lead into the intermission, using a strong build up that led to sophomore
Adam Chazin-Gray's fourth-career goal. He was setup on the play by a beautiful feed from Gottlieb.
Minutes into the second half the Yeomen nearly extended their cushion to three, as Winward had his shot hit off the crossbar and a follow attempt from rookie
Timothy Williams also hit the top bar. In the 55
th minute another strong run that was started by freshman
Jonah Blume-Kemkes led to a promising look by Chazin-Gray, but Lias challenged him at the top of the box and made a sliding save.
The Purple Raiders pushed the tempo with just over 30 minutes to go, creating three different chances, but were unable to put any attempt on frame with two shots flying high and a header sailing wide.
Yeomen senior goalie
Oidie Kuijpers was relatively unchallenged for much of the match, but did come up big in the 70
th minute, making back-to-back saves. The first shot off the foot Trever Wendel deflected off his hands and rolled away from him and then he got just enough of Jacob Sutton's follow attempt to keep the clean sheet intact. He finished with three saves on the night.
The Yeomen continued to create chances in their offensive third in the second half, and would ultimately put an additional insurance goal on the board as sophomore
Nick Wertman sent one home with the help of
Enzo Cabili's pass. Just over three minutes later Wertman would return the favor as his long touch pass setup
Dan Lev for a one-on-one battle versus Lias that the Yeomen sophomore won to cap the game's scoring.
Prior to the third goal, another promising chance came on a diving header from Chazin-Gray as
Nick Wertman sent a picture perfect service to the back post. But somehow Lias was able to get just enough of Gray's attempt to keep it out of the net.
Oberlin finished the game with an 18-13 edge in shots, including an 8-3 margin in shots on goal.
The Yeomen will be back in action on September 6 when they travel to Penn State Behrend. The first touch is set for 5 p.m.
