The women’s soccer team had a jam-packed schedule this past weekend with a home game against Bluffton University last Thursday followed by an away match against Wilmington College. With the hire of new Head Coach Taylor Houck, all eyes were on the team in their first two games of the season. The pressure was on to see if her offseason work with the team had successfully reinvigorated the team’s culture and breathed new life into the program.

The Yeowomen did not disappoint. In their season debut, the team dominated the Bluffton Beavers in a 5–0 blowout. The Yeowomen fired off 31 shots total and scored goals across the roster: third-year Maya Blevins, second-year Sam Gilfond, and  first-year Elena Foley all found their way to the back of the net, with second-year Heather Benway scoring twice to finish the Beavers off. The defense was also stellar, with third-year goalkeeper Benji Maddox securing four pivotal saves in the victory.

On Saturday, the team traveled to take on Wilmington College and secured a second victory against the Quakers. Third-year midfielder Adrienne Sato capitalized on an early foul to score a penalty kick in the first half. Oberlin’s defense was then able to shut Wilmington out for the remainder of the game, securing a close victory for the Yeowomen.

“So far we are two games into the season, and I am already so impressed with this team,” Houck wrote in an email to the Review. “We are fortunate to have both excellent leadership from our returners and a large, impactful first year class who is helping push the team forward every day. The team’s overall commitment to each other is inspiring and I believe is what’s given us a competitive advantage in the previous games.”

In only two matches, almost every player who has seen the pitch has taken shots. Houck’s improvements and the Yeowomen’s renewed confidence in one another is clear when watching their new, fearless play style.

Fourth-year midfielder and captain Camille Franklin is already seeing progress in her teammates’ performances. In her last season with the team, she’s excited to see how the group will grow under Houck.

“The team this year has gained so much confidence through training and our new head coach,” Franklin said. “Having a tight-knit group of people [built around] a coach you can trust has allowed us to start our season with two wins.”

Although they lost in a game on Wednesday against Baldwin Wallace University, the Yeowomen still have a chance to continue the momentum from their weekend debut this Saturday against Chatham University at Fred Shults Field.