Portia Bridges and Ashley VanVechten each scored a goal and the Yellowjacket defense limited Skidmore to only two shots in a 2-0 victory in the ECAC Northeast Regional Quarterfinals this evening at Fauver Stadium. With the win, Rochester, ranked 4th in the ECAC field, advances to the semifinal round where they will go on the road to face top-ranked Union.
After a couple of good scoring opportunities early in the first half, Bridges got Rochester on the board after intercepting a Skidmore defender's clearance pass in front of the goal box and quickly put it past goalkeeper Liza Mills for the 1-0 advantage at 31:31. Early in the second half, Karen Forsythe took a corner kick that Mills cleared out in front of the net. The ball sailed toward VanVechten, a defender, as her back was toward the goal. She took a shot bicylce kick-style as it approached her and the ball went past the goalkeeper to make the score 2-0 at 53:21.
Rochester outshot Skidmore (13-6-1 overall) 26-2. Mills made 10 saves in net for the Thoroughbreds. Adrianne Hulchanski and Molly Leitch split the shutout in net for the 'Jackets (11-5-3 overall), with Hulchanski playing the first half and recording the win and Leitch playing the second half. Neither goalkeeper was forced to make a save.
Rochester's ECAC Northeast Regional Semifinal contest will take place this Saturday at Union. Kickoff is at noon.
