Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College women's lacrosse team suffered its first loss of the season, falling 16-5 to the visiting John Carroll University Blue Streaks on Wednesday night at the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex.
The Blue Streaks entered the game boasting the nation's top scoring offense with an average of 22 goals a game and they wasted no time in jumping on the Yeowomen early, scoring the game's first six goals before Oberlin was able to get on the board.
The Yeowomen would breakthrough at the 18:06 mark when Sydney Garvis cashed in her sixth goal of the season. Just over 90 seconds later, Natalie Rauchle would add to her team-leading goal total to cut the deficit down to 6-2.
Unfortunately, JCU would respond with three consecutive scores to push the lead back out to seven, 9-2. First-year Leah Crowther netted the Yeowomen's final goal of the half with the help of a Rauchle feed, but it was the Blue Streaks who deposited the frame's final goal to make it a 10-3 Blue Streaks' advantage at the intermission.
The scoring pace slowed in the second half, but it was the Blue Streaks who scored the first three goals of the the period to leave no doubt in the eventual outcome of the match.
Oberlin's second-half scoring came courtesy of Garvis as she finished off an assist from Eliza Amber. Junior Sabrina Deleonibus also buried a fastbreak goal off a beautiful lead pass from Kyra Aviles.
Statistically, the game was fairly even as JCU ended with a slight 28-25 advantage in shots, but Oberlin had a 21-20 edge in ground balls. The Yeowomen also won 13 of the game's 21 draw controls. Amber matched Rauchle with a team-high five draws. Rauchle, Deleonibus, and Emily Berner also scooped up four ground balls each in the loss.
Meghan Harte and Gina Vilsack led the Blue Streaks with five goals each as they moved to 6-0 on the year. The loss dropped the Yeowomen back to 2-1 on the year.
Oberlin will begin its spring break trip against Colorado College on Monday night. The opening draw is set for 6 p.m. EDT.
