Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College women's lacrosse team fended off a charging Kenyon College Ladies squad to win 15-12 on Saturday afternoon at the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex.
 
With the game knotted at 12 with just over five minutes to go, Marissa Maxfield put the Yeowomen out in front with the help of a Natalie Rauchle feed. Maggie Mullard then followed with her fourth score of the game before Rauchle added the final tally with 15 ticks left on the clock.
 
After going ahead, the Yeowomen did a good job of securing possession and using the running clock to their advantage. Key draw controls by Hayley Drapkin and Michaela Puterbaugh certainly aided in the cause.
 
Rauchle led the Yeowomen attack with five goals to run her team-leading total to 44.
 
The Ladies had an early 2-1 lead and it was later 3-3, but Oberlin broke the game open with a string of five straight goals. Grace Barlow scored one and Rauchle netted two during the run. First-year Hayley Drapkin followed with an unassisted tally before Sloane Garelick capped the spurt with a free-position finish.
 
However, the Ladies answered back with three of their own before Rauchle scored again with 11 seconds left in the first half to make it a 9-6 Yeowomen advantage at the intermission.
 
The Yeowomen were out of sync to start the second half and the Ladies were able to take advantage, scoring three times in the first 10 minutes to even the score. Mullard's 8-meter goal at the 18:45 mark put the Yeowomen back out in front, but it was nip-and-tuck the rest of the way.
 
The two rivals would trade goals down the stretch with the final Kenyon goal coming courtesy of Jane Symmess to tie it at 12 with 7:39 remaining in the game to setup the strong Yeowomen finish.
 
Alexa L'Insalata worked all 60 minutes in the cage and finished with nine saves to increase her season total to 111.
 
Oberlin finished with a 23-10 advantage in ground balls and was successful on 11-of-16 clears. Their stingy defense held the Ladies to just 6-of-13 on clears and helped contribute to Kenyon's 19 turnovers.
 
Maxfield secured four draw controls and matched L'Insalata with a team-high five ground balls.
 
The Yeowomen will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon at Hiram College. The opening draw is set for 4 p.m.