soccer – The Oberlin Review

Reflections on Rejection, Soccer, and Life After Oberlin

May 24, 2019

Earlier this year, I applied for a fellowship from the Watson Foundation, an institution that provides yearlong fellowship that gifts recent college graduates $30,000 to travel the world studying a topic of their choice. About a month before I heard back, I had my first dream about it. It’s probably better described as a nightmare, actually. I walked down a hallway plastered with pictures of the 40 Watson winners from six different countries — my task was to scan every square inch of the walls, searching for photographic confirmation that I had indeed been one of the chosen. I did not see my face. A few nights later, I dreamed that I arrived sorely underdressed to the Watson group interview — an even...

Son Heung-min Weighs in on England’s Race Debate

Jane Agler, Sports Editor

May 3, 2019

If you are familiar with my previous sports columns, then you are well aware that I am a huge fan of Tottenham Hotspur winger Son Heung-min — in spite of my die-hard allegiance to Arsenal FC. My affinity for Son is controversial, to say the least, but makes sense given my own South Korean identity. As a Korean-American viewer, it is exciting to watch a Korean athlete succeed on the pitch. But in some ways, his success is equally as disheartening due to the negative — and racist — attention it receives. On January 14, Tottenham launched an investigation after a fan tweeted that other Tottenham fans had acted “hideous[ly]” during a match, directing racist comments and chants toward their very own K...

Megan Rapinoe Leads the Race for Women’s Rights in Sports

Julie Schreiber, Senior Staff Writer

March 15, 2019

If you’re in search of a hero during Women’s History Month, look no further than Megan Rapinoe. As one of the most important players on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, Rapinoe played a big role at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, where the United States won it all with a victory over Japan. She was also instrumental in the United States winning the gold medal in women’s soccer at the 2012 London Olympics. At the same time, she has emerged as one of the boldest, most outspoken and justice-driven athletes in modern sports. No list of trailblazing female athletes is complete without her name at the top of it. On the field, Rapinoe’s presence is hard to miss. As a forward, she scores her fair shar...

Hooliganism Spoils Soccer Match in Argentina

Julie Schreiber, Senior Staff Writer

November 30, 2018

Following weeks of hype and buildup, the highly-anticipated soccer game that was supposed to take place in Argentina Saturday, Nov. 24, was canceled after hooliganism took the stage. The two teams are the River Plate and Boca Juniors, and together they make up quite possibly the most divisive social force in all of Argentina — although both hail from Buenos Aires, approximately 70 percent of the entire nation supports either River or Boca. The two teams have competed against one another numerous times throughout their 105-year rivalry, but never in a championship match. Saturday was to be their first, as they battled for the trophy of the Copa Libertadores, the most prestigious club competition in South Ame...

Germany Does Not Have World Cup Locked Down

Jane Agler, Staff Writer

May 11, 2018

The biggest sporting event in the world is finally here. People from all around the globe will be tuning in on June 14 for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where 32 national teams will compete for international glory. Germany — the team that clinched the Cup back in 2014 — is still a favorite, but if the qualifying tournament showed us anything, the World Cup is still going to be full of surprises. Right now, there are only a handful of nations that seem to pose a strong threat. Germany, who will compete with much of the same roster as they did in 2014 — with noteworthy exceptions like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm — is likely the most intimidating team to arrive in Russia. Following in their wake...

Arsenal FC Loses Wenger, Manager of 22 Years

Jane Agler, Staff Writer

April 27, 2018

After 22 years of managing Arsenal Football Club and providing the club with some of its most successful and memorable years to date, the sun is finally setting on Arsène Wenger’s career. Last week, Wenger announced to the public that he was leaving the club after the season finishes, marking the end of one of the most well-known managerial careers of all time. Regardless of the discourse revolving around his departure — much of which centered on whether his leave was overdue — it is necessary to sing the praises of a man who did so much for English and international soccer during one of the last tenured managerial careers seen today. When crunching the numbers, Wenger’s success is obvious. He managed 1,229 ga...

Gardiner Leaves Yeowomen After Program Turnaround, Successful 67-Game Career

December 1, 2017

Gwennie Gardiner wears a ribbon in every single one of her soccer games. It’s for good luck. However, she probably didn’t need it when she scored her fourth goal of the game at the 22:30 mark of Oberlin’s 8–0 dismantling of the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes on her way to the program’s first United Soccer Coaches’ National Player of the Week award in September. She has long since traded her ribbon for a Yeowomen’s Soccer sweatshirt after playing her last game on Oct. 28. Of course...

My Experience as a Black Soccer Player at Oberlin

Brittany Mendez

November 3, 2017

One of the first times I hung out with the soccer team outside of practice, we listened to music with the n-word in it. We were mostly silent when the word was sung, but a few still looked me in the eye and said it. There was clear tension in the moment, but it was most likely soon forgotten by my teammates. It clearly stuck with me, since I am writing about it in this article. It was awkward, and I was not sure how to react. In that moment, I decided the easiest solution would be to ignore it altogether. I had only known my teammates for a few days, and I did not think it was worth making a scene. As one of the only minorities on the team — and the only one in the room at the time — I was not sure where I could...

In The Locker Room With Timothy Williams, Men’s Soccer Captain

September 15, 2017

This week, the Review sat down with senior captain and forward Timothy Williams of the Yeomen soccer team. This season, Williams has led the charge for the current 3–1–1 record after a crushing North Coast Athletic Conference Championship loss to the Kenyon College Lords last year. His efforts this year have been recognized beyond the NCAC, as he collected the National Division III Player of the Week accolade after the first week of play. This interview has been edited for length and clari...

Yeomen Riding Five-Game Win Streak

September 23, 2016

The Yeomen propelled themselves to a five-game win streak with dominant defense and an aggressive offense after going 1–1 in their opening matches. The team’s most recent victories show the Yeomen are finding their stride as they prepare for their first North Coast Athletic Conference Game Saturday. The Yeomen defeated the Grove City College Wolverines for their fourth win of the season on Sept. 14. Grove City’s Stephen Betteridge claimed the first goal on a breakaway just 17 minutes into...

Intramurals Require Ambition, Accessibility

March 4, 2016

Organized sports definitely have their allure. Beside the stress release of physical activity, you get the community of a team, the drive and motivation of a coach and the adrenaline from an organized competition. However, this all comes at the cost of pressure, extensive time commitment and often physical strain, all of which can sour the pure joy of running around outside and playing sports for some who prefer a more relaxed environment. For those people, there are intramural sports. Intramural...

Red, White and Gold

Tyler Sloan, Sports Editor

April 27, 2015

The countdown to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada this summer has officially begun. With a little over a month until the festivities begin, analysts have started to embark on a series of lengthy commentaries that will consume sports media from now until early July. Every World Cup comes with a “group of death,” a term reserved for the bracket with the most top-ranking teams from around the world. Unsurprisingly, the FIFA No. 2-ranked United States Women’s National Team has, yet again, been selected for this group. Last time around in 2011, the team saw serious competition from Brazil and Sweden. This summer, the United States will face Sweden again, along with Australia and Nigeria in Group D. This y...