Oberlin, OH – A new era for the Oberlin College women's soccer team officially gets underway on August 30 when the Yeowomen begin their 2013 season under the tutelage of new Head Coach Dan Palmer.
 
Palmer, who was hired in March, brings strong credibility to a program that was in drastic need of a facelift. With 23 years of collegiate coaching experience under his belt, Palmer has a background of great success. Most recently he spent nine seasons as the Head Men's Soccer Coach at Case Western Reserve University where he led the Spartans to two University Athletic Association Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances while winning a total of 87 matches. In time he believes this Yeowomen program can reach that level.
 
"We have started the process of changing our culture and have set a standard of how we are going to operate within the program," Palmer said. "As we continue to reinforce productive habits, I feel we can build a sustainable foundation that will lead to success.  I have been very, very pleased with our team so far and we are moving in a positive direction."
 
While the roster is young with 12 first-years, the Yeowomen do have a core of 10 talented players returning. The senior defensive duo of Sarah Andrews and Sarah Orbuch are two of the most experienced backline players in the North Coast Athletic Conference with 92 total games to their credit. Over the past two years they have also been the main protectors of athletically-gifted goalie Kate Frost. The junior from Germantown, Maryland, made an NCAC-best 143 saves and also led the league with 8.41 saves per game last fall. This season she will be backed up in the net by freshman Emilia Omerberg and senior Rachael Bandeira.
 
"We do have experience on defense but we have a lot of talented freshmen in Zoe Schlanger, Cam Sacristan, Casey McGuire, Kitty O'Neill, Caley Watnick and Katie Mercer-Taylor who will push our returning players.  All of those players make for a competitive environment which is needed to improve our performance from last year." Palmer added. "I have been happy with our team's effort and look forward to our continued development."
 
While Oberlin is experienced in the back half of the field, the team will need to be much better in the final third in order to make strides in 2013. The Yeowomen netted just seven goals last fall, and currently the only players on the roster with a collegiate goal are Abby Weiss and Megan Michel.
 
"We are going to have to find ways to generate more offense if we are going to be successful," Palmer said. "This is an aspect of our game we will address throughout the season.  I am confident our offensive production will improve this year."
 
Joining Weiss on the attack are rookies Taylor French and Megan Hermann. French was a four-year varsity player in high school. She helped West High School (Salt Lake City, Utah) finish second in the region twice, while also earning all-state honorable-mention honors in 2011.  Hermann captained her team to the high school state championship match in Georgia.
 
In the midfield Oberlin welcomes back sophomores Ellie Huizenga and Sarah Willete, each of whom played in all 17 games a season ago. Rookies Tyler Sloan, Rose Guardino and Caroline Oehlerich will also see time at the fulcrum.  Returners Samantha Mater and Tricia Souza will provide valuable experience at both the midfield and back positions.
 
Oberlin opens the season a week from Friday when it battles the University of Mount Union at Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia. The team opens its home slate on Labor Day at 2 p.m. against Hilbert, and the conference comes on September 28 at Wittenberg.

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