As a key element of defense,
Aiming to be a strong defender

College of Arts and Sciences 2nd Year Student
Women's Lacrosse Club
Graduate of Yamanashi Prefectural Yoshida High School

Yuka Oikawa

Main content

I don't want to lose to players from other universities.

In high school, I was a member of the handball club. In college, I wanted to try something new, so I looked for a club and found the women's lacrosse club. The atmosphere was bright and cheerful, and I felt that I could dedicate myself to the sport for four years in this team, so I decided to join.

J. F. Oberlin University 's girls' lacrosse club is mostly started with no experience. In my first year, I participated in practice and training camps involving other universities, and I was surprised to see so many outstanding players. My desire not to lose to them motivated me, and I was able to dedicate myself to lacrosse with the determination to do anything.

Lacrosse is a sport that can make you feel positive.

My position is defender. Since there are no third-year students on the team right now, I feel a sense of responsibility as the linchpin of the defense and I am working hard in practice to become a strong defender. It's not just about stopping the opponent, but also pushing them out of the penalty area. It's tough when facing opponents with excellent footwork, but I'm working to improve my explosiveness with the mindset of "never letting them into the 11-meter area."

I enjoyed my club activities in middle and high school, but everything about practicing with the girls' lacrosse team is fun. Even if we lose a game, I can feel positive and think, "I'll get my revenge next time."

Lacrosse is a team sport, so there are times when communication breaks down among team members. Previously, my relationship with a teammate deteriorated, and at that time, we were unable to perform at our best. We had many discussions and clarified what each of us couldn't compromise on. It was good that we agreed to "keep personal feelings separate from club activities and focus when practicing."

Use everything as fuel for growth.

This year, our goal is to participate in the promotion/relegation playoffs for Division 2, but we also want to at least stay in Division 3. It's true that not having any third-year students might be a disadvantage. However, that means we'll be able to gain more match experience compared to players of the same year at other universities. We want to use this as fuel for our growth.

There is no sport without defense. I want to be a strong defender that my teammates can rely on. I tend to make sloppy plays towards the end of the game, so I want to build up my stamina so I can run until the very end. The women's lacrosse team is small in number, so our strength lies in teamwork that transcends grade levels. I would be happy if you would pay attention to our unified and coordinated play.

Interview date:
This was done in June 2024 for the "Obirin Sports" website.

As a key element of defense,Aiming to be a strong defender

Main content

I don't want to lose to players from other universities.

Lacrosse is a sport that can make you feel positive.

Use everything as fuel for growth.

Related content

As a key element of defense,
Aiming to be a strong defender