The first and second round games were played with mini goals and no goalkeepers. However, for the third and final round, teams played with regular soccer goals and goalkeepers. Each game was around 30–45 minutes long. The referees for the tournament were third-year Zoe Garver and fourth-year Brynn Adams, who are both women’s soccer players and recent All-NCAC honorees.

College third-year Olivia Gonzalez is on the club soccer team and played in the tournament. Her team — Koby’s BFFs, named after third-year Koby Mbonu — was a mix of College students, varsity soccer players, and members of other varsity teams.

“I had a great time at the tournament!” Gonzalez wrote in an email to the Review. “It was awesome for BSAG to organize this event, and I’m really proud of the turnout and success!! I was on Koby’s BFFs and despite our early elimination to Him (which actually featured a lot of my club soccer friends), we still had a blast.”

Gonzalez joined club soccer at the end of her first year, and though she believes she still has a long way to go in improving her game, it has given her an opportunity to practice a sport she loves.

“It was definitely daunting to join the club at first because I hadn’t played since middle school,” Gonzalez wrote. “However, we have practices 4–5 times a week, and slowly I’ve improved!”

These days, Gonzalez serves on the club soccer leadership committee team, which helped with the organization of the soccer tournament.

“BSAG invited me to one of their meetings to discuss logistics for the event and to run some ideas by club soccer regarding game timing, promotion, and rules,” Gonzalez wrote. “But I credit the majority of the event planning and success of the event to BSAG!”

Mbonu, who is co-chair of BSAG and on the men’s soccer team, served as one of the main organizers for this event.

“BSAG wanted to create another sports tournament for the Oberlin community and decided a soccer tournament would be the best idea,” Mbonu wrote in an email to the Review. “We partnered with Club Soccer and Yeofit (who were great to work with) and had an amazing time.”

Mbonu reached out to the club soccer team because it would guarantee players for the tournament. He also reached out to YeoFit since they would provide resources for the event, such as hoodies and frisbees for raffles and food and beverages.

“We haven’t hosted anything in the past with either organization, but will definitely be doing this tournament next year so we’ll be sure to reach out again,” Mbonu wrote. “In addition, the athletic and non-athletic community don’t cross over too much at Oberlin so it gave us a chance to do that as well.”

Only one team could win it all, and that was Tacha’s Team. Tacha Lee, a third-year on the women’s soccer team, thought that it would be fun to put a team together. It was composed of all varsity soccer members from the men’s and women’s teams.

“The tournament was really fun!” Lee wrote in an email to the Review. “It was nice seeing a bunch of people play soccer together. Winning was also great but it was more fun to just hang out with my friends and kick the ball around.”

Third-year Samantha Gilfond, who is on the women’s soccer team, played on the winning team.

“It was nice getting a chance to play with my teammates again after our season ended and also play alongside the men’s team,” Gilfond wrote in an email to the Review. “I thought it was a great way to spark friendly competition and meet new people. I love playing soccer and I am very competitive so it was a great way to support BSAG and leverage my competitiveness.”

When asked how the tournament was compared to a Division III in-season soccer match, Lee commented on the light-heartedness of the game.

“It definitely was a lot more relaxed than varsity soccer and I could just kinda enjoy myself while playing soccer more casually with others,” Lee wrote.

Gilfond noted the similarities and differences between this game and varsity games.

“It was super different, especially when we were competing against teams that were not made up of majority soccer athletes,” Gilfond wrote. “In the final game both teams were made up of mostly varsity soccer players which made the level of play pretty high.”

Mbonu, who also played on Tacha’s Team, had similar remarks to Lee and Gilfond.

“It was great playing in the tournament,” Mbonu wrote. “All around, I believed everyone had a great time though. It doesn’t really compare to DIII soccer at all because a lot of people playing weren’t currently training athletes, but the competition level was still high and I hope it will keep the same standard for next year.”

Stalions was originally a volunteer assistant in 2015, but officially became part of their staff in 2022. A Michigan native, his parents both went to University of Michigan. Stalions played football throughout his childhood and his dad was a football coach for an eighth grade team. He graduated from the Naval academy in 2017, where he worked as a volunteer football assistant during his undergraduate years. He also wrote a 550–600 page document called the Michigan Manifesto that he managed daily, which outlined his 15-year blueprint for taking over the University of Michigan Football program and becoming head coach. Stalions is suspended with pay from his role for the Wolverines due to sign-stealing allegations.

To be clear, sign stealing in collegiate football is allowed to some extent. For example, people can steal signs before the games by watching film. However, scouting opponents in person and recording signs is not allowed, especially when using electronic equipment to relay information during a game. An NCAA bylaw implemented in 1994, rule 11.6, states that “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited.” However, for the same event at the same site, “An institutional staff member may scout future opponents also participating in the same event at the same site.” Another exception is for Conference or NCAA Championships, where “an institutional staff member may attend a contest in the institution’s conference championship or an NCAA championship contest in which a future opponent participates (e.g., an opponent on the institution’s spring non championship-segment schedule participates in a fall conference or NCAA championship).” Under Article 11. H in the NCAA Football 2023 rules book, “any attempt to record, either through audio or video means, any signals given by an opposing player, coach or other team personnel is prohibited.” 

Before Michigan supposedly started sign-stealing in 2021, the program had a streak of losing three or more games for the past couple of seasons. Since 2021, however, they have lost only three games. So, where does Stalions come in?

Stalions bought tickets for over 30 games at the Big Ten schools for the past three seasons, with tickets to 12 of the 14 Big Ten. Stalions would pay for people to go to games and sit on the opponent’s side to film opponents signals, specifically to be behind and across the benches around the 45-yard line. This was revealed on his public Venmo transactions, where he was seen paying people with the caption “GA” the day before a Georgia vs. Ohio State game. In other cases, people would charge Stalions with the transaction caption as “Game.” These were games in which Michigan was going to play the opponent or play in that stadium in the future. However, it is unclear whether Stalions himself was funding those tickets. After all, he only makes $55,000 a year, and the Washington Post reported that this operation would cost around $15,000 if Michigan planned to send scouts to 40 games. 

Most recently uncovered is a photo of a man, who appears to be Stalions, dressed as a Central Michigan University Coach when CMU played Michigan State as their season opener on Sept. 1 and was pictured with a “VB” — or Visitor’s Bench — pass. However, the CMU head coach claims that Stalions’ name was not on the list of names associated with the VB pass for that game. The University of Michigan played Michigan State Oct. 21, winning 49–0. 

This isn’t the only Michigan football scandal going on at the moment, however. In January of this year, former Co-offensive Coordinator Matt Weiss was fired after accessing other University of Michigan emails without authorization. Though this isn’t tied to the sign-stealing scandal, the FBI is now involved in looking into Michigan’s football program. On top of that, Head Coach Jim Harbaugh served a university-imposed three-game suspension earlier this season for unrelated recruiting violations. 

Despite off-the-field scandals, the Wolverines have been dominant on the field. Michigan currently sits at 8–0 and is the No. 2 ranked team in the country. They have outscored conference opponents 229–31, with an average margin of victory of 34.8 points per game.

However, they have yet to play any significant competition. On Nov. 11, they will travel to play No. 9 Penn State, and two weeks later they will face off against No. 3 Ohio State in one of college football’s most-anticipated rivalry games. Ultimately, the results of these two games will determine if Michigan can make it back to the College Football Playoffs for the third year in a row, and potentially win the program’s first national championship since 1997. 

If Michigan didn’t already have a target on their backs, they sure do now. As time goes on, so will the investigations, and more details will come about the scandals. Coaches and players will be forced to answer questions in the media and hear about it every time they turn on the TV or check social media.

The Wolverines have become the villains of college football. Will they embrace it, or will it potentially tarnish a record-breaking season for one of college football’s most prestigious and historic programs?

Since softball is a spring sport, they do not participate in games in the fall — except for Fall Ball, one day when the team can play up to three games. On Oct. 7, the team hosted Ursuline College, an NCAA Division II school, and lost 6–4. 

“We played a DII [team], but we were definitely able to hold our own, which was great,” Brito said. “We lost a few players from last year, so it’s taken us a while to see where all the pieces are going to be for this year. Especially after play day, we have a much clearer idea of how our defense is going to shape up, and it’s looking really good.” 

Throughout the fall the team is allotted a set number of practices, which start in early September. After these, the team then transitions to captains’ practices for the rest of the fall, led by Austin, Brito, and Di Dio. In addition, they lift two to three times a week. 

The three housemates have all played softball for many years. Austin has been playing since elementary school. 

“It was the first sport I ever played and I just stuck with it because I like pitching so much,” Austin said. “[I] essentially [have] control on the mound and we just get to be outside with our friends. It’s a good environment and it teaches you a lot. I’ve learned so much about dedication and teamwork from travel ball and then playing in college, and it builds a really strong community.”

Brito has been playing softball since she was four years old. She hasn’t stopped playing because her mom never got the opportunity to continue playing after high school. 

“I really like it, but I mostly play because my mom didn’t get to,” Brito said. “She had my brother when she was 17, [so] she had to quit. So, I keep playing for her.”

Di Dio credits softball as her break from school, which motivated her to keep playing at Oberlin. 

“In high school and now, it’s a time to get away from academics and responsibilities,” Di Dio said. “It’s like structured hanging-out time with your friends; it’s your favorite people and you get to see them every day. Our team is so close-knit.”

In their house, the fourth-years have a cherished cone, a softball tradition. Each year, the softball fourth-years pass on a giant megaphone cone to the next group of fourth-years, with each graduating class signing the interior. Maria Roussos, OC ’18, came back during homecoming and noticed the megaphone cone sitting in their living room.

“She goes, ‘I cannot believe you guys still have this cone,’” Di Dio said. “And we’re like, ‘What?’ She’s like, ‘I started this when I was in school, when I was a [first-year].’ One of her [fourth-years] gave it to her. When you’re a [fourth-year], you sign the cone — under the cone, there’s a list of names from all these years past. She came and saw it in our house and she’s like, ‘I am so glad someone still has it. I thought it’d be thrown away right now. But I like that you guys are keeping the tradition forward. You have to give it to the next house.’”

Outside of softball, the three are constantly busy with other extracurricular activities, which the team is incredibly supportive of. Over the summer, Brito had the opportunity to study in Japan through the Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment Grant as an East Asian Studies minor. When she did her LIASE presentation at the beginning of the school year, the team came and watched her present. When Di Dio presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium last year, she received similar support from her teammates and coaches who came to her presentation.

Since her second year at Oberlin, Brito has worked at the Multicultural Resource Center and as a manager at the Dionysus Disco. Over the last year and a half, she has been working with 15 different minority student groups on an archive for minority student groups on campus. She has gotten the school to approve a digital database, which will be uploaded to the Oberlin College Library server, and a physical archive, which will be in Wilder Hall. After Oberlin, she plans to take a gap year on campus to continue working on this project. Later, she plans to go into information science and archiving with a focus on social justice, library science, and information access. 

“There’s not many schools that are doing that,” Brito said. “I’m very excited.”

Di Dio is a peer tutor for Psychology and Statistics classes as well as a PRSM trainer on campus. She has been in multiple labs and assisted Visiting Assistant Professor of Politics Adam J. Howat in formulating a study investigating political identity and affective polarization. She currently does research at the Michigan State University Twin Registry, where she’s mainly focused on studying the etiology and development of externalizing behavior, specifically antisocial behavior. She presented her research in Spain at the annual meeting of the Behavior Genetics Association. She’s currently applying to Ph.D. programs in clinical science and psychology, where she hopes to continue her work or go into the field of behavioral genetics. 

Austin does research in the Ryno Lab in the Biochemistry department, looking at changes in the transcriptome of arabinose-treated E. coli. This summer, she participated in a nuclear and radiochemistry summer school program at San Jose State University, where she learned about the basics of nuclear chemistry and visited the Livermore National Laboratory and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Now, she’s looking at graduate schools for radiochemistry or biochemistry.

When asked about advice she would give to her first-year self, Austin was nostalgic about her time here. 

“Just enjoy the things that Oberlin has to offer, because it’s going by so quickly,” Austin said. “It’s over already, and we have to cherish these last moments, like going to Long Island Night.”

Di Dio believes that one’s first-year and fourth-year selves are very different. 

“A lot changes between first year and fourth year,” Di Dio said. “You think you might have it figured out, but you don’t — roll with the changes.”

My favorite part of the game was getting free boom sticks that I could cheer with and then, later, annoy my brother with. I have a dozen or so packs of them lying around my room that still haven’t been inflated. Sometimes, when the Blazers won, Taco Bell would hand out coupons just for the night. If that was ever the case, after the game, my dad would drive us to the Taco Bell near our house, and I’d get a chicken quesadilla and a frozen Baja Blast for my 10 p.m. meal. 

I liked watching basketball because it was fast paced. Though I disliked the fluorescent lighting, squeaks, and loud buzzers in the Moda, I always enjoyed the anticipation of the game and the talent the players put on the court.  Even nowadays, Oberlin’s basketball team is one of my favorite teams to watch.

Though I haven’t been to a Blazers game in a while, Damian Lillard leaving to play for the Milwaukee Bucks feels like I’m saying goodbye to a part of my childhood. Even when LaMarcus Alridge and C.J. McCollum left, I was sad, but this somehow feels worse. Maybe because he was the last star player remaining, or because he’s been a part of the Blazers for more than half of my life. Lillard is considered one of the NBA’s best guards, and perhaps the best Trail Blazer of all time. In his career, he’s been named All Star for 11 seasons. This season, he’s averaged 32.2 points per game. Chances are, if you own a numbered Blazers jersey, it says “Lillard” on the back.

College third-year Braden Wells, who went to one of my rival high schools, also grew up going to Blazers games. 

“[Lillard] was sort of the only good player for as long as I can remember,” Wells said. “I’m a little bit mixed about it because, obviously, they’ve been terrible for the past four or five years now. So, I understand wanting to leave and get a trophy, but also he’s running from the grind.”’

College third-year Jake Davis, who went to high school about 15 minutes from me, also saw Blazers games growing up. His dad was a graphic designer that got Blazers tickets every once in a while, so Davis would go see them play with his family. As an eight-year-old watching the games, his highlight was the T-shirt cannon that would launch free shirts into the large crowd. In middle school, kids would show up the next day with boom sticks to show off that they had attended the Blazers game. He also expressed enthusiasm about the local food scene in the Moda, as he enjoyed grabbing a burger from Killer Burger or a gourmet s’more. In contrast to Wells, Davis is melancholy about Lillard’s departure. 

“I’m sad about it,” Davis said. “I mean, it’s not like I want the Portland Trail Blazers to only ever be defined by the fact that Damian Lillard was on the team, but it still does feel sad. He was a really amazing player, and he was kind of like a symbol for Portland, like the ‘L train.’. I feel like the Trail Blazers are definitely gonna come back, have new great players, have a new great generation, but it’s definitely sad to see the end of an era for that team.”

Davis’ favorite past Blazers player, Robin Lopez, also just signed to the Milwaukee Bucks — where he will be joined by Lillard. 

“I liked him the most because his hair was always just crazy and it would bounce as he was running down the court,” Davis said. “And then also he just had such style. … It just always looked good.”

College third-year Isaac Cotlar started going to Trail Blazers games when he was in first grade. He would go to two or three games a year with his dad, and when the Trail Blazers made it to the playoffs, they tried to go to those games as well. Cotlar has watched Lillard since his rookie season and has been a fan ever since. Like me, he valued watching Lillard play because it was time spent with his dad during his childhood. After games, they would walk across the Willamette River to Chinatown. 

Cotlar recalled how, in one of the first Blazers games he watched, Lillard hit a buzzer beater against the Houston Rockets in the 2014 Western Conference Playoffs, leading the Blazers to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time in 14 years. The final score was 99-98. 

“It was definitely a formative memory for me in terms of going to Blazers games,” Cotlar said. “I feel like Blazers fans are pretty enthusiastic compared to a lot of other NBA fans.”

Cotlar has mixed feelings about Lillard leaving. 

“I’m sad, but I’m also happy — he’s doing what he has to do,” Cotlar said. “Obviously it’s bittersweet, and I wish the Blazers had put themselves in a position to keep him, but I think it was probably time, you know? It definitely does suck though.”

When asked who his favorite Blazers player was, Cotlar immediately answered Lillard.

“I started wearing the number zero when I played basketball in middle school — I would wear zero because of him,” Cotlar said. “But beforehand, there was Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. I mean, at this point, people are kind of saying he’s maybe …  one of the best players ever. Or … at the very least, [he’s] up there with the older guys from the nineties, like Drexel and stuff.”

So, what lies next for Rip City? To be honest, I’m not sure. Lillard’s departure means saying goodbye to a symbol that has defined Portland.

Game prediction: Football vs. DePauw? After the Yeomen’s win against Concordia University of Chicago, we were told to not get too excited about the next couple of weeks. DePauw currently stands at 4–0, and we think that with Oberlin’s last two blowouts, it will most likely be a loss. 

Game prediction: Men’s soccer vs Wooster? The Yeomen currently stand at 2–3–3. Wooster stands at a close 3–4–2. We think this might be a draw.  

Favorite fall sport to watch?

Andrea: I love volleyball. I am also obligated to watch volleyball because my housemate is one of the hitters. My favorite thing to watch during a volleyball game is what all the players on the sidelines are doing. You might see the Yeowomen waving around their pom poms for support, pretending to snipe whenever someone makes a kill shot, or cheering on fourth-year Andréa Jones by singing “Dre” instead of “Damn” in their version of “Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert. (Much love to field hockey as well, I wish there were more home games earlier this season.) 

James: I’m a little biased towards volleyball because I love watching second-year Jill Jendsen make insane digs on the court and dance like crazy on the sideline, but I also really like watching soccer. Seeing the players hustle after the ball and make crazy shots on offense and unreal saves on defense is incredibly exhilarating, and I don’t think there’s ever a dull moment during a game. 

Who will have the best season this fall? 

Andrea: I mean, volleyball is 10–1 at the moment, the best in program history. Also, cross country has its members placing high at races, so they should finish off their season strong. 

James: I also have to go with volleyball. They’re killing it so far this year and have been so dominant in every game they’ve played. Here’s to hoping they can keep it up and win it all this year.

Obie-specific flags?

#1. Red flags: If they’re from New York City or Los Angeles, Jazz majors, anyone who regularly participates in friendcest, guitarists who play you “Blackbird” on your first date, people who eat in Stevie for every single meal, and anyone who buys the canned boba from DeCafé. 

#2. Beige flags: Being in OSCA, any men’s sports team, spending the night at yours your first night out together, exclusively studying on the first floor of Mudd Center, and taking all their classes in King Building. 

#3. Green flags: Missing Biggs GoYeo, actually being quiet on the third and fourth floors of Mudd, getting drinks from Azariah’s Cafe instead of Slow Train Cafe to save money, and making conversation with AVI workers.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift?

Andrea: To be honest, I had no clue who he was before the dating rumors. My all-time NFL crush is Joe Burrow without a doubt. After seeing the videos of Travis dancing when he does a touchdown or making friendship bracelets for his tight end campers, I too might have a crush on Travis Kelce. I’m still all for Kaylor, though. 

James: Travis Kelce has been my NFL crush for quite a while now (sorry, Jimmy G and Joe Burrow lovers). The eyes, the smile, the muscles, the humor, the dances, the bracelets, the podcast with his brother… ANYWAY, Taylor Swift is stunning and arguably the greatest pop star of our generation, so what can go wrong? Best-case scenario, they get married and Taylor only writes happy love songs from now on. Worst case, they break up and we get another banger album to scream in the car. It’s a win-win for me!

Sports Editors Alumni Feature: what was your favorite part about working for the Review?

Since it’s Homecoming Weekend and we miss them so much, we decided to ask our previous Sports Editors a question. 

“The thing I miss most about being at the College is definitely working at the Review. My favorite thing about the Review was just working with the other staff members. I’ve always been a very independent worker and person in general. I think just learning to work with people who have all different kinds of personalities and creative skills made me a better person. I ended up meeting and becoming friends with people who I might not have ever talked to if I wasn’t a part of the staff, and I think that will be more meaningful long term than any article I wrote about men’s lacrosse or whatever.” –John Elrod, OC ’23.

“My favorite thing about being in the Review were the late nights in the office with my friends when we all would become delirious. It seemed horrible at the time, being in that basement for seven hours straight, but some of the funniest moments from my college experience happened down there at 1 a.m. during Thursday night production. Whether it was running to DeCafé for Fourth Meal in the pouring rain, drawing on the walls, taking random photo booth pictures, or blasting Christmas music, the office culture was always a nice escape with my friends from the real world above ground.” –Zoe Kuzbari, OC ’22.

“My favorite thing about being a part of the Review was spending countless hours with my best friends to create a weekly newspaper that brought attention to important stories in the Oberlin community. I loved writing about the athletic community and highlighting multifaceted student-athletes. There was nothing like the feeling of publishing a story that I had worked hard on, and I am grateful for the trust that people put in me to tell their stories.” –Zoë Martin del Campo, OC ’22.

“My favorite thing about being in the Review were my coworkers! We all worked so hard each week and it always came together in the end, even when it didn’t feel like it would.” –Khalid McCalla, OC ’21.

“Through working for the Review, I formed wonderful friendships with people whom I otherwise would have never gotten to interact with. My colleagues, especially my Editors-In-Chief, were so warm and encouraging, and they taught me how to perfect the craft of writing — and empowered me to enjoy the process. My experience at the Review unequivocally launched my career in public relations.” –Alexis Dill, OC ’20.

“The community. Those long Thursday nights were some of the most fun times I’ve ever had. Even though we were stuck in the Review basement for six hours straight, I couldn’t have asked for better people to spend it with: work friends, but also friend friends. They were people you can definitely rely on, given you were brothers-in-arms against the Oxford comma together.” –Jane Agler, OC ’20.

“My favorite thing about being in the Review: being on the staff changed the way I lived on a daily basis. The Review helped me see the campus and the town as a place full of answers to my questions and curiosity. Once you start interrogating and asking questions about the obvious and implicit things around you, you realize how many stories are waiting to be told. The Review helped me see that stories of all kinds were all around me.” –Julie Schreiber, OC ’19.

Tigst Assefa, a former Olympian, broke the women’s world marathon record Sunday at the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany. Assefa finished first place in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 53 seconds, averaging a 5:02 mile. She also finished first last year with a time of 2:15:37. The previous record, 2:14:04, was held by Brigid Kosgei from the Chicago Marathon in 2019, who won the silver medal for the women’s marathon at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. 

Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, with two Olympic gold medals and five of the seven fastest times in marathon history, won his fifth Berlin Marathon. He now holds the most Berlin Marathon wins, outranking Haile Gebrselassie. In 2022, Kipchoge also made headlines for the men’s world marathon record, finishing the Berlin Marathon in first place with a time of 2:01:09. 

Red Bull Wins Their Sixth Constructors’ Championship

In Red Bull Racing’s 19-year history of sponsorship in the Constructors’ Championship, they have secured their sixth win through Max Verstappen’s win at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. So far this season, Red Bull has won all but one race and will likely continue securing wins for the remainder of the Formula 1 season. Verstappen won 13 out of those 16 races, and of those 13, won 10 of them in a row — an F1 record. Red Bull has scored 623 points for this championship, vastly outranking the next-highest scoring teams, Mercedes with 305 points, and Ferrari with 285. The team also broke the record for securing the title with the most races remaining.

Individual Sports Cross Over Into Team Events

Last week, two individual sports switched gears and took part in team events. The Ladies’ Professional Golf Association and Ladies European Tour team up every two years for the Solheim Cup, a team competition that features 12 of the best golfers from the United States and 12 from Europe. Since Team Europe had won the last edition of the Cup, it just needed to tie with the U.S. to reclaim victory. Led by Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, Europe tied 14–14 with the U.S. and won its third consecutive title.

This year’s edition of the Laver Cup, a men’s tennis team event featuring the best players from Europe against the best of the rest of the world, was a blowout. After Team Europe, previously led by founder Roger Federer, won the first four editions of the Laver Cup, Team World won for the first time last year and followed up their victory with a dominant performance. Dropping only one match over three days of competition, Team World won 13–2 and will look to become three-peat champions next year in Berlin.

Miami Dolphins Score 70 Points on a Historic Sunday

On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins offense scored 70 points against the Denver Broncos, the most in an NFL game since 1966. Tua Tagovailoa, the current front runner to win the MVP award this season, threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Dolphins to a 50-point victory. Running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane tacked on two and three touchdowns, respectively, and backup quarterback Mike White threw for one touchdown in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the Dolphins set multiple records, including becoming the first team to run for and pass for five touchdowns in a game, and becoming the first team to score 70 points and earn over 700 yards in a game. The Dolphins take on the Buffalo Bills Sunday in an AFC East showdown.

The Yeomen went into halftime down 1–0 after the Yellow Jackets scored at the 14th minute. However, they rebounded nicely, scoring just eight minutes into the second half. First-year John Wirtz scored his first career goal to even the score in the 53rd minute off an assist by third-year Augie Smith. 

The game was tied 1–1 from then on until the final minute, when the Yellow Jackets scored, leaving the Yeomen with little time to tie the game and earn a point. 

With just 54 seconds left in the game, second-year Louis Gandelheid swiftly scored his third goal of the season, redirecting the ball into the back of the net off a rebound from a shot on goal by third-year Toby Wells-Zimmerman. The Yeomen finished the game with a 2–2 draw. 

“I felt that we really improved in the second half of the match and created a lot more chances, scoring the tying goal midway through the period,” second-year Nate Thompson wrote in an email to the Review. “However, through a combination of misplaced shots, good saves from the opposition goalkeeper, and some unlucky ricochets, we were unable to take the lead. Then the last minute of play. That was crazy. Defiance had an amazing long range goal, but we ran straight back up from kickoff and tied the game again. I was proud of our response, as we could have easily become deflated and simply given up the game.”

Third-year goalie Colvin Iorio’s comments aligned similarly to Thompson’s. 

“The last couple minutes were crazy because we felt we were sure to get a goal with all the pressure we were putting on them before they managed to score,” Iorio said. “It was pretty deflating but luckily we kept pushing and managed to get one back to tie it.”

Iorio made three saves in the first half before second-year Louis Berger stepped up to the goalie position in the second half, making one more save for the Yeomen.

“We weren’t super happy with the draw because we felt we dominated the game and had a lot more shots, but they converted their chances more efficiently and sometimes that’s the way soccer goes,” Iorio said. “I didn’t have too much to do in the half I played because I think they only had two shots on me, but one of them was a goal.” 

Oberlin shined with 29 shots, 18 of them on goal, and 10 corner kicks. Star players included Gandelheid and Wirtz, who each had a goal, along with Wells-Zimmerman and Smith, who were both credited with an assist. Thompson kept the offensive pressure on the Yellow Jackets throughout the game with seven shots, five of which were on goal.

“While overall it was a very frustrating game for us, I was proud of the resilience of the group to fight back and get the equalizer so quickly after conceding the 2nd goal,” Head Coach Blake New wrote in an email to the Review. “If we take care of a couple of details in the game, we should win that game very easily. When you outshoot your opponent 29–10, you should win the game. We just didn’t finish well and we made a couple of mistakes defensively.”

Thompson echoed similar remarks to Coach New. 

“Such a comeback showed a resistance to adversity that the team has often missed in the past,” Thompson wrote. “Last year, we were quite a young team, with a majority of the squad composed of [first-years] and [second-years]. However, we have been able to progress together, and I am very excited to see how the greater amount of experience within the team can hopefully translate into an improved season. We also have been supplemented by a talented incoming class who have added in quality and been able to compete for positions right away.”

Coach New remained optimistic for the rest of the season despite this uncertain start. 

“The guys have worked hard in training, and I think we will bounce back quickly,” Coach New wrote. 

Thompson expressed gratitude for the students and community members who showed up to the game. 

“I would also love to give a shout out to the fans, as the support at the game was amazing,” Thompson wrote. “Hopefully we can get some more packed crowds out at Schultz throughout the year.”

The team currently stands at 1–2–3, and has not yet had a conference game. Following the draw against Defiance, the team lost 2–0 against Capital University at Schultz Field on Wednesday night. The Yeomen will next play Heidelberg University in Tiffin, OH at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

Blevins has been a part of the women’s soccer leadership committee for the past two years, which consists of six other members. When Head Women’s Soccer Coach Taylor Houck joined the team, Houck turned the captain system to a leadership committee system. The committee’s main goals are to uphold team values, which represent the phrase “OC Love”; lead by example; and provide support for teammates. They also help energize the team, keeping them focused on excelling in conference play and making the North Coast Atlantic Conference tournament.

“It has worked so well for our team,” Blevins said. “I feel like having all the leaders who are in the leadership group with different strengths and personalities really works well, and is able to bond the team in really great ways. I’m so grateful to have the other leaders. With captains, it can be only one or two people [leading], and I think it’s great that we have a large group of leadership.”

Though Blevins is currently injured, she is confident in the team’s abilities this season. She is also thankful for those who have stepped up in her absence and helped to replace the presence of former team leader Camille Franklin, OC ʼ23. 

“Genuinely, I’ve been so impressed by all my teammates so far,” Blevins said. “I think we look really good. This is honestly the best team since I got here… we only lost one person last year and brought on three new players. The transition and playing together this year has been really seamless. The new players fit right into our team, and I’m really, really excited for this season. I am confident [that] with this team we can not only make it to the tournament, but win the whole thing!”

Aside from soccer, Blevins walked onto the lacrosse team her first year and has been part of the team since. People ask her a lot about the similarities and differences between soccer and lacrosse. She claims that the fitness and strategy of both sports have a lot of overlap and the differences mostly come from the personalities from the team, which she is appreciative of. 

“I’m so lucky that I get 40 automatic family members within my teammates, and it’s kind of fun to see how those dynamics play out with the different people on my team,” she said. 

One difficult decision Blevins had to make was to give up her third lacrosse season in order to go abroad to Auckland, New Zealand, where she lived for seven months. Her teammates were supportive and understanding of her decision, which she is extremely grateful for. Blevins would watch all the livestreams of the team’s games, even with the 16-hour time difference.  

While abroad, her university offered unique classes, including a Pacific Studies course that she took along with an introduction to photography course. Blevins was a big fan of New Zealand’s food, such as their cheese and garlic scones, butter chicken pot pie, and coffee — since dairy is the country’s largest export. 

“I have always wanted to go to New Zealand since I was really little,” she said. “Growing up, I went to an overnight summer camp for two weeks every year. I had a lot of Kiwi counselors and they were always so fun and so nice. So ever since I was little, I think I had a good impression as I got older. I really loved New Zealand’s response to COVID-19, their connection with nature, and their relationship with their environment — that really pulled me in. Then, of course, I’m a Lord of the Rings fan.”

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. When asked about her favorite character, she immediately responded with Legolas.

While abroad, Blevins had the opportunity to participate in outdoor thrills. This includes riding the Nevis Swing — the world’s largest swing — upside down. The swing hangs over a canyon and has a 300-meter arc. Her spring break included traveling around New Zealand and living out of a car for two and a half weeks with friends. She also traveled to Australia and hit Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. While in Australia, she had the chance to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef. 

Most importantly, studying abroad changed Blevins’ understanding of the world and different cultures. 

“It can kind of be a cliché to say after studying abroad, but I am convinced that my global perspective of the world has completely shifted,” Blevins said. “It’s one thing to learn about and completely another thing to go and live there and really immerse yourself in somewhere new. To see how other people see the world … is so valuable.”

Living alone for more than half a year can be a big step as a college student. However, Blevins felt that she grew from taking care of herself and being on her own in a new place. 

“I totally feel like I have newfound confidence in myself that I could go and live somewhere new, create my own support system, and build my own schedule,” she said. “Traveling takes a lot of planning. I haven’t been able to do so much self-organized traveling.”

To keep active, Blevins joined Auckland Central United, a club soccer team in the city that plays matches against other local club teams. Since lacrosse isn’t as big in New Zealand, her lacrosse playing was limited only to practices. One of Blevins’ highlights was playing in the interfaculty futsal tournament at her university abroad, in which teams consisted of students from each school division. Her team, the Science Spartans, won the tournament, dominating the finals 3-1. As a soccer fan, Blevins also witnessed two World Cup games, one between New Zealand and Norway, and the other between Vietnam and the United States. 

Being back at Oberlin, Blevins is excited for this upcoming year. 

“I’m looking forward to making the most out of my [fourth-year], really trying to stay present in the moment, and enjoy the company of all the good people I’ve met here,” Blevins said.

“It was actually a really good assist,” Garver said. “[Benway] just slotted it past the back line, and that was what was really fun.”

Second-year Ali Grant started as goalkeeper for the first two games. Grant saved all four shots from the Gators, securing Oberlin’s defensive line. On the offensive side, Garver led the charge and took eight shots with four shots on goal. Five of Benway’s six shots were on goal, fourthyear Adrienne Sato shot three times with one shot on goal, and third-year Tacha Lee took two shots with one shot on goal.

In the Yeowomen’s second game on Sunday, Benway’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. She scored a hat trick, a rare phenomenon that occurs when a player scores three consecutive goals in a single match. The final score was 3–1 against the Franciscan University Barons. Her first goal came in the first half, while the other two were netted in the second half.

“This is my first collegiate hat trick so it was a really exciting game,” Benway said. “I think the last time I got a hat track was during club senior year of high school, and for it to come during the second half, the whole team put in a ton of effort to get those opportunities coming back from a goal down.”

Last year, Benway was named North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. As a testament to her accomplishments, she was recently recognized as this week’s NCAC Player of the Week.

“NCAC player of the week is a cool award because we can get an early look at how the conference sees our team, especially during our non-conference games,” Benway said. “I’m happy to get that recognition.”

Norah Mosley, a first-year on the team from Robbinsville, New Jersey, secured her first career point by assisting Benway during the 70’ goal. As a first-year, she has had 98 minutes of playing time between the two games, affirming a promising start to her collegiate career.

Aside from Mosley’s assist, Benway made seven of her eight shots on goal, second-year Sophia Timm-Blow shot three times with one shot on goal, and second-year Elena Foley shot twice.

Claire Vallely, a fourth-year from Trumansburg, NY, praised her team’s performance this past weekend.

“I think we played really well and are really incorporating our new players really well,” Vallely said. “We really studied the tactics of the other teams beforehand and incorporated that into our play.”

Though there are currently some injuries on the team, Head Women’s Soccer Coach Taylor Houck is handling it well. The starting lineup has not drastically changed from last year with their one senior, Camille Franklin, OC ‘23, graduating. There are also new additions to the team, including second-year Sophia Timm-Blow, a transfer from Kalamazoo College, and first-years Audrey Benson and Mosley, all of whom are seamlessly integrating into the squad.

“I think they’re really good additions to the team,” Garver said. “They fit right in and they’re definitely gonna contribute and help us have a good season.”

Some new changes were made in leadership too. This year’s leadership committee members include fourth-years Brynn Adams, Maya Blevins, Mattie Rie, Benji Maddox, and Clark Waltz, as well as third-years Zoe Garver and Sofia Mitchell.

While the Yeowomen faced a setback against Baldwin Wallace University on Tuesday with a 1–4 loss (with a goal made by Garver and assisted by Benway), the team remains resilient. Catch the women’s soccer team this Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. on Fred Shults Field as they play against the Wilmington College Quakers. With their talent, expertise, and determination, the women’s soccer team is poised for an exciting and successful season ahead.

The club holds space for a community of pet lovers and sports fans who share a love for their animals and the Crimson and Gold. As stated on their website, the club believes that pets and athletics are both about “excitement, playfulness, and a drive for adventure.”

Assistant Director of Athletics Communications and Digital Media Strategist Amanda Phillips was the leading force in the new club. Phillips sat down with Natalie Winkelfoos, Oberlin’s associate vice president for athletics advancement and Delta Lodge director of Athletics & Physical Education, and Creg Jantz, the senior associate director of Athletics, in January 2023 to consider how the club would operate.

It took the team just a few months to put all their ideas into action, and the Oberlin Pet Club became official in the spring of 2023.

Membership is open to all members of the Oberlin community, including students, residents, alumni, faculty, staff, and family. Members who register their pets will receive free Oberlin bandanas. There is no cost to join the club, and club events are also free.

Admissions counselor and women’s lacrosse alum Leah Crowther, OC ’21, who oversees California and Minnesota in admissions, is also helping to pioneer the club.

“The purpose is broadly to create community,” Crowther said. “Because the club is open to students, staff, and Oberlin residents, the idea is to make opportunities to meet new people and encourage maybe some new faces to come to Athletics events. Few of us are immune to the lure of a puppy party.”

Upon graduating, Crowther applied to become an admissions counselor for Oberlin because she wanted to share her love and pride of Oberlin with others, especially prospective students. Crowther also adopted Dolly, a long-haired miniature dachshund. Now three years old, Dolly is the face of the Oberlin Pet Club.

“I like to think I got involved because of Dolly’s sparkling reputations,” Crowther said, “But truthfully I am friends with Amanda and she approached me with the idea. Dolly loves people and pets so we both knew she would be a great club member.”

Dolly’s “petfluencer” counterpart is Ziggy, an orange tabby cat who is a member of Michael and Lillian McFarlin’s family. Michael currently works in Mary Church Terrell Main Library and his daughter Lillian is a third-year on the women’s track and field team.

Phillips is hoping people register a variety of pets, from dogs and cats to bearded dragons and fish.

“We want [the club] to be all-inclusive. We want to see pets of all kinds,” Phillips said. “We’ve got goats in there, we want to see bearded dragons, we want to see your birds, we want to see your pigs, your non-traditional pets.”

For more information on the Oberlin Pet Club, visit goyeo.com/ oberlinpetclub or email Amanda Phillips at aphilli2@oberlin.edu.