Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College field hockey team secured a 1-0 Homecoming victory over Washington & Jefferson on Saturday afternoon, powered by Bella Tilford's second-quarter goal and a strong defensive performance from the Crimson and Gold.
"Today was a really exciting result for this group. We certainly left some attacking opportunities on the table, but to generate 16 shots and 14 penalty corners while not allowing Washington & Jefferson a shot or a corner says a lot about the way we controlled the game and worked together across the field." Head Coach Jess West said.
Tilford led the Crimson and Gold with five shots, including four on goal, while Shelby Roth also recorded five shots. Mary Rodman added two shots, and Samantha Finkelberg put a shot on target.
Oberlin created several scoring opportunities in the opening quarter, recording four shots and earning five penalty corners. The Obies continued to pressure the defense in the second quarter, with Tilford collecting the ball near the 20-yard line and maneuvering past several defenders before finding the back of the net at the 24:39 mark to give the Crimson and Gold a 1-0 lead.
The Obies continued to generate chances throughout the second half, adding nine shots and seven penalty corners across the final two quarters. Oberlin finished the contest with a 16-0 advantage in shots and earned 14 penalty corners.
Defensively, the Crimson and Gold kept Washington & Jefferson from registering a shot, allowing goalkeeper Mia Rubin to finish with a clean sheet as Oberlin secured the Homecoming win.
"Bella came through with a big goal for us, and I'm especially happy that we were able to earn this win on Homecoming with so many people there supporting our team. There are still things we want to clean up, but this is a result we're excited about and proud of. We'll get back to work Monday, address those details, and continue building as we prepare to travel to Wittenberg on Wednesday."
The Crimson and Gold will hit the road to Springfield to take on Wittenberg on Wednesday, October 14th at 5 p.m.
Keep up with the Crimson and Gold on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and watch every home game on the Oberlin Sports Network online or on Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV.
