The Yeowomen showcased a balanced attack Saturday versus the Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops to earn a decisive 15–5 victory.

Eight different players scored for the Yeowomen, advancing the team to 7–3 overall and 2–0 in North Coast Athletic Conference play. Sophomore midfielder Natalie Rauchle netted a team-high three goals, adding to her team-leading season total of 36. Rauchle also contributed two assists en route to her five-point outing.

Rauchle, who was sidelined last season due to injury, said that this season she has been making up for lost time.

“I was injured for a lot of last year, and as most athletes know, watching from the sideline unable to help your team is pretty brutal,” Rauchle said. ”So I came out this year ready to step up and try and make up for the season that I missed last year.”

Rauchle also said the Yeowomen’s depth and team chemistry played an integral role in the win, as well as in the team’s overall success this season. “I wouldn’t be scoring if defense wasn’t able to stop the ball, and midfielders weren’t transitioning the ball, or if the attack wasn’t setting up successful plays,” she said. “We have so many people who are able to score and so many people who step up in every game. We’ve have multiple games where over six different people scored.”

First-year midfielder Hayley Drapkin, senior midfielder Grace Barlow, junior midfielder Hannah Heinke-Green, junior attacker Maggie Mullard and senior Suzanna Doak all netted two goals in the win. Ohio Wesleyan University scored the game’s first goal, but Oberlin responded to tie the game in a matter of seconds, courtesy of Rauchle on a free-position goal. Barlow, a member of the 2015 All-NCAC First Team, scored the second goal for the Yeowomen from a Rauchle assist, putting the squad up 2–1. From that point on, the Yeowomen never looked back.

Barlow said the Yeowomen’s focus as a team was key to its success, and that kept the momentum in their favor. “Our mental game was a huge factor against OWU,” Barlow said. “We came out with confidence and the belief that we were going to win, and we never wavered. We’re looking to carry that attitude throughout the rest of the season.”

While the Battling Bishops were able to make the game level once more at 3–3 midway through the first half, Oberlin responded with fury, scoring four straight goals to help bring the score within a more comfortable margin. OWU then scored in the closing moments of the first half to slim the gap to 7–4 before the teams regrouped for halftime.

The Yeowomen started the second half with a flurry of goals, scoring five straight and stretching the score to 12–4 in what proved to be an insurmountable lead for the Bishops. The Bishops scored only once in the second half, capping off an impressive offensive and defsenve performance from the Yeowomen.

Junior goalkeeper Alexa L’Insalata was the anchor for Oberlin’s defense, making 11 saves in the game to boost her season tally to 74. Oberlin ended the game with a bolstering 32–18 shot advantage over the Bishops and won 14 of 22 draw controls. The Yeowomen are currently on a three-game win-streak and look to stay hot throughout the rest of their conference schedule.

Drapkin said the squad has its sights set on winning a conference championship — something the Yeowomen almost achieved last season.

“I think, as a team, the keys to success for the rest of our conference schedule is to keep growing,” Drapkin said. “To win a conference championship, we hope to improve every day. Every practice and every game must be better than the last.”

Oberlin’s next contest is Saturday at 1 p.m. when they travel to Denison University to take on the Big Red.