OBERLIN, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer team struggled to find a rhythm as it dropped a 3-1 loss to non-conference opponent Oberlin College.
BW (2-1) had some scoring opportunities early but failed to get its first three shots on goal. Meanwhile, Oberlin (3-0) was able to sink its first shot deep into the net off with a long-range shot from senior midfielder Hannah Cook in the 10th minute.
Senior Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference defender Lauren Haynam (Minerva) tied the game up with her first goal of the season and the Yellow Jackets only goal of the night with a long-range shot off a pass from senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC forward/midfielder Rachel Bender (Massillon/Jackson) in the 38th minute.
The Yellow Jackets were able to maintain the tie as sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Weidner (Medina) made four consecutive saves to start the second half while Bender and junior midfielder Cassandra Waickman (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) took shot after shot in an attempt to give their team the lead. However, Oberlin defended and contested the ball well, reducing the number of good looks that BW got on goal.
In the 70th minute, senior forward Gwennie Gardiner scored off a rebound shot to give Oberlin a 2-1 advantage, which it never relinquished, and only added a second another goal 10 minutes later to solidify the lead.
Oberlin held the advantage in shots taken 19 to 11 while Weidner out-saved Yeowomen junior goalkeeper Jordyn Morris five to three, which ties the sophomore's season-high in saves.
BW will travel to Buffalo, New York, to compete for a second tournament championship this weekend in the Bengals Classic hosted by Buffalo St. (N.Y.) College Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10. The Yellow Jackets will take on Rutgers-Newark (N.J.) on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and the host Buffalo St. on Sunday at 1 p.m.