In a hard-fought North Coast Atlantic Conference semifinal matchup, the Oberlin College men’s lacrosse team left everything on the field but ultimately came up one goal short, falling 11–10 to top-seeded Ohio Wesleyan University Wednesday night. The narrow loss brings the Yeomens’ season to a close with an impressive 11–5 overall record, including a 5–3 mark in conference play, making this one of the program’s most successful seasons in recent history.

The rematch with the Battling Bishops was intense from the opening whistle, a testament to the gritty rivalry that had already formed earlier in the season. Both teams came out with energy, trading defensive stands early on. Ohio Wesleyan scored in the 11th minute of the first quarter and would eventually take a 2–0 lead before first-year Cooper Rand responded for the Yeomen, cutting the deficit in half as the first quarter ended. 

The second quarter saw both teams open up offensively, with Oberlin and Ohio Wesleyan each netting three goals. Heading into halftime down 5–4, the Yeomen showed resilience, a characteristic that defined their season. Third-year midfielder Solomon Brennan tied things up early in the third quarter with a laser past the Bishops’ keeper, igniting a five-goal Oberlin surge that gave them a 9–7 edge heading into the final 15 minutes. 

But the fourth quarter proved cruel. While third-year Jacob Starcke scored early to extend the lead, the Yeomen’s offense went quiet for the remaining 14 minutes. Meanwhile, the Bishops found their rhythm, scoring four unanswered goals including the game-winner with just 46 seconds left. A last-minute shot attempt by Starcke was denied, sealing the one-goal defeat.

Despite the heartbreaking end, the Yeomen had much to be proud of, especially in regard to their performance on both ends of the field. The defensive unit, led by fourth-year Jonas Taylor-Lillquist and Rand, combined for nine ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Fourth-year Gavin Girard, playing in his final game, chipped in three ground balls and caused a turnover, while third-year Jake Fields added a ground ball and a key defensive play late in the second half. In goal, third-year Jake Pillsbury filled in admirably for injured fourth-year Joe Barocas, tallying eight saves and five ground balls and keeping Oberlin in the contest with several point-blank stops. On the offensive end, first-year standout Cooper Zancosky delivered with six points — three goals, three assists — while Brennan and Starcke each added a pair of goals. Faceoff specialist first-year Evan Sardina was a workhorse, winning 19 of 25 faceoffs and collecting six ground balls.

For Brennan, the performance was attributed to a mix of confidence and controlled execution.

“We moved the ball around the perimeter very well, we were patient and looked for the best shot, and we attacked their weak spots,” Brennan said. “We knew coming into the game that it was going to be a dogfight, especially after the first contest, but overall I felt like we gave our all and we just came one play short.” 

Brennan’s reflection on the game echoed a broader truth for the season: this year marked a turning point for Oberlin lacrosse. With 11 wins, the program proved it competed with the best in the conference. Even in defeat, the Yeomen showed they belonged on this stage. 

“Eleven wins in a season is great for our program,” Brennan said. “Our underclassmen now understand what it takes to win, and they persevered throughout the season. Three of our five losses this year were by one goal, which shows how close we are to winning even more games.” 

With only a handful of seniors graduating and a young core returning, the Yeomen are poised to build on this momentum. Players like Zancosky, Rand, and Taylor gained invaluable experience, and Brennan believes their contributions this year will pay off next season. 

“Next year when we bring almost everyone back, we’ll be able to win those one-goal games,” Brennan said.

Looking ahead to the offseason, Brennan emphasized the importance of trust, commitment, and buying into the team culture.

“As we’ve experienced all year, when we buy into what our coaches and captains are teaching us, good outcomes happen,” Brennan said. “It’s not easy being a college athlete at a small school, but when everyone is bought in and trusts the process, we play more competitively and ultimately raise the standard of winning. We’ve accomplished a lot this year and more opportunities will come our way.” 

For the Oberlin College men’s lacrosse team, the season may have ended but the foundation for something greater has already been built.