Women’s Soccer Fires on All Cylinders to Defeat Oberlin 4-2

Langston Hood, Senior Sports Writer

The Fighting Scots women’s soccer team opened conference play on Saturday, Oct. 1 against one of the more obscure mascots in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), as they welcomed the Oberlin Yeowomen to Carl Dale Field. The Yeowomen were riding high off a three-game winning streak and boasted an undefeated record outside of the tainted walls of Oberlin. The fact that the game was conference play, Oberlin’s perfect away form and a talented Wooster team seemed the perfect mixture for an exhilarating Saturday afternoon matchup. 

Along with all these factors, Saturday marked Senior Day for the trio of soon to be graduates: Teddi Farson ’23, Helena Janczak ’23 and Kate Schumacher ’23. This group has represented Wooster with pride during their time playing in the Black and Gold. Since their first year, Wooster has appeared in the national tournament twice, won two NCAC tournaments and seen the competition canceled in 2020. Additionally, the trio has collected a variety of individual accolades with Farson being named the 2021 NCAC Newcomer of the Year and receiving second team All-NCAC honors. Schumacher holds the Scots’ record of scoring the two fastest consecutive goals in a game against Baldwin Wallace University in 2021. Janczak pinpointed her last NCAA tournament as a pivotal moment in her career. “My favorite memory of playing soccer at Wooster was when we won PKs against Case Western in the 2019 NCAA Tournament,” said Janczak.

Emma Jaros ’24 opened the scoring in the 20th minute thanks to an assist from classmate Naomi Mann ’24. Mann, who was named NCAC Athlete of the Week for her efforts, was in the helping mood that afternoon as she later assisted Schumacher, who added her name to the score sheet in the 28th minute. Wooster controlled play throughout the first half, firing 15 shots at the Yeowomen goal forcing a pair of saves from the Oberlin keeper Benji Maddox ’24. The Scots continued to knock on the door, looking for a pivotal third goal to put the Yeowomen out for good. The woodwork, however, proved to be on Oberlin’s side as they denied Farson, Erica Beaty ’26 and Grace Gascoigne ’24 from putting their name on the scoresheet. 

The second half would tell a different story, as Oberlin came out eager to take the fight to Wooster and show why conference play is so difficult. Just 11 minutes into the second half, Oberlin would put one in the net to cut Wooster’s lead in half. Farson, however, killed their momentum, notching her third goal of the season in the 60th minute thanks to a helper from Schumacher. Making for another celebratory Senior Day goal and putting the game seemingly out of reach at 3-1. Oberlin fired back five minutes later as the same duo of Garver and Benway pegged a second response for Oberlin. 

Oberlin continued to threaten Wooster, outshooting the Scots 13-8 and forcing five saves out of goalie Kameryn Nelson ’26. Mann would flip the script and play goal scorer in the 81st minute to put the game out of reach. Nelson spoke to the atmosphere of her first conference game between the sticks: “all games are important but the feeling before this first conference game was really intense, and you could tell everyone was ready to play.” On the same play, Charlotte Sefcik ’26 recorded her first collegiate point by assisting Mann. Sefcik echoed Nelson’s comments about the first conference game saying, “you can really see a different level of intensity out on the field in conference play.”

Janczak painted a glowing image of the team’s play saying, “I would describe the team’s play as creative, quick and strong,” adding that, “I am confident that we will be able to grow these skills in order to create the best possible outcomes in the games to come.” Jaros also emphasized the importance of conference play, saying that “conference play is where our team needs to walk away from each and every game feeling confident that we put everything on the table.”

When the final whistle blew, Wooster emerged victorious by a score of 4-2, winning their first conference game and ascending to the top of the table as there will be no other conference play until this weekend. Wooster will host the Tigers of DePauw in a 1 p.m. kickoff in their second conference match of the season.

Come support your Fighting Scots as both soccer teams take on DePauw back-to-back Saturday afternoon at Carl Dale Field!!