Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College women's lacrosse team opened the season with a 19-11 victory over the Baldwin Wallace University Jackets on Wednesday night at the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex.
 
Senior Natalie Rauchle led the Yeowomen offensive attack with seven goals to run her career count to 141. Sydney Garvis, Ali Wessel, Eliza Amber, and Kyra Aviles each registered three goals in the victory.
 
Both teams were feeling each other out throughout the majority of the opening half until the final minutes when Oberlin was able to create some separation. The two foes traded goals throughout the opening seven minutes of the game with the Yeowomen scores coming courtesy of Rauchle, Aviles, and Rauchle again as the score was even at 3-3.
 
Wessel, a first-year from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, cashed in her first-career goal on a free-position attempt to put the Yeowomen out front, but BW reclaimed the lead with back-to-back goals of its own. However, the Yeowomen would score six of the final seven goals of the half to carry a 10-6 lead into the intermission. The 6-1 run featured two goals from Rauchle, the second of the game for Aviles, and season-opening goals from Amber and Garvis.
 
Rauchle opened the second half with an 8-meter finish, but three consecutive BW tallies cut the Oberlin cushion down to 11-9 with 18:37 left to play. Oberlin was clinging to a 13-10 advantage with 15 minutes to go, but the Yeowomen would leave no doubt in the eventual outcome as they ripped off six straight goals to effectively end the game. The first-year combo of Wessel and Leah Crowther started the run while Alives completed her first-career hat trick. Garvis, Rauchle and Amber also buried free-position goals down the stretch.
 
Emily Berner led the defense with six ground balls and two caused turnovers. Overall the Yeowomen had a 32-18 edge on ground balls. Oberlin also finished with an 18-14 advantage in draw controls as Garvis, Amber, and Rauchle each scooped up six.
 
Siena Marcelle went all 60 minutes in goal and made 12 saves.  
 
The Yeowomen outshot the Yellow Jackets 42-27, which include a 34-23 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Oberlin has a short turnaround as it travels to Otterbein to take on the Cardinals on Friday afternoon. The opening draw was set for 5 p.m.