Oberlin College Athletics

The Oberlin College men’s soccer team finished the 2008 season unbeaten in its last four games and despite the loss of five seniors, the team has the pieces in place to pick up right where they left off to start 2009.

Two-time Second-Team All-NCAC selection Skyler Dum leads a potent offense for the Yeomen. The senior from Milford, Michigan, is coming off a season in which he finished second in the conference with 10 goals to go along with two assists. He also garnered Second-Team All-Ohio honors and was named to the NSCAA All Great Lakes Region Third-Team. Junior Evan Atwell joins Dum on the frontline where he started all 19 games a season ago. Atwell, who netted six goals and finished second on the squad with 18 shots on goal, is slated to be even a bigger factor in the offense this season.

Sophomore midfielder Oliver Miller-Farrell returns as one of the top assist-men in the country as his 11 helpers as a freshman were 19th best in the NCAA. The Second-Team All-NCAC selection is a dynamic player who is deadly in transition for the Yeomen. Senior Dan Jaffe hopes to rebound from an injury plagued season in 2008 that limited him to just 12 games and four assists. However, with 43 games played in his career, he possesses the experience to anchor the midfield. Versatile junior Pete Sabo, along with returning fifth-year senior Zach Lewis gives Oberlin one of the deepest units in the conference. David Lowe, Joshua Brancazio, Shahab Raza, first-year Justin Griffiths, and Chris Campbell, who is coming off injury, are also viable options at midfield.

Looking to fill the shoes of the departed Kyle Taljan on the Yeomen defense are juniors Wyatt Hayman and Drew Williamson. Hayman, an offensive-minded defender who is vital on set pieces, earned NCAC Honorable-Mention honors for the second season in a row while scoring four goals. Williamson, who has started 25 games over the last two years, controls the left side and dished out two assists in 2008. Junior Justin Norman along with sophomores Alen Cisija and Kiefer Forsch and freshman Taylor Herman, will also provide defensive support.

Junior Zach Lipshultz is poised to become one of the top goalkeepers in the NCAC this fall. As a sophomore, he turned away 68 shots while registering five shutouts, which was third best in the league. However, the Pinecrest, Florida, native has battled injuries in each of the last two seasons and needs to stay healthy in order to move into the upper echelon of Division III keepers. Sophomore Chris Sunby, who saw action in two games as a rookie, will spell Lipshultz in a backup role.

Winners of six of their first eight games in 2008, the Yeomen look get off to fast start once the year begins on September 1 at home against Heidelberg. Oberlin, who was 6-3 at Fred Shults Field a season ago, plays nine games at home this fall – with seven under the lights. The Yeomen are looking for revenge against Hiram on September 26 in their first conference tilt of the season.