Five different players hit the back of the net as the University of Rochester defeated Washington, 5-0, in a matchup of nationally-ranked men's soccer teams at Edwin Fauver Stadium on Friday night.
The Yellowjackets scored in the seventh minute, had a 2-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half, and pushed the edge to 3-0 before the second half was five minutes old. A breakaway in the 62nd minute and a goal that found the right bounce made it 5-0 to complete the scoring with just under 13 minutes left.
Rochester improved to 11-2-2 overall, 4-1 in the University Athletic Association. The Yellowjackets moved a game ahead of Washington (3-2 UAA, 11-4-1 overall) in the UAA standings and stayed one game adrift of unbeaten Emory (5-0).
It was the fifth shutout in the last six games for the Yellowjackets and their seventh win in the last eight outings.
Clif White scored the opening goal. Scott Cady made it 2-0 in the 35th minute. J.J. Dennstedt scored his ninth of the season in the 50th minute. Josh Richards scored on a breakaway from midfield just over an hour into the match and Kevin McDonald completed the scoring in the 78th minute.
Michael Peacock made two saves in the first 65:13. Brandon Campbell logged the last 24:47. He made one save. It was the fourth shared shutout for the goalkeepers and Rochester's 10th shutout in 14 matches.
John Smelcer went the first 71:42 in goal for Washington. He made two saves and allowed four goals. Ryan Kruse made one save in 18:18 and allowed one goal.
A quick pass from midfield found its way onto the foot of White. He ran evenly with two defenders, then accelerated past them, made a quick feint, and lined a shot off the left post from 12 yards out. The ball beat Smelcer, caromed across the goalline, then bounced off the right post and rolled into the net at 6:49.
Cady got his third goal in the last four outings at 34:32. The Yellowjackets earned a throw-in on the right sideline, 20 yards off the endline. Dominic Pellingra threw the ball into the box for Steve Welles running towards the near post. It was tipped away slightly. Cady reached it, wheeled, and lined the ball into the lower left hand corner for a 2-0 cushion.
Dennstedt pushed the lead to 3-0 at 49:33. A ball was distributed from the center to him on left wing. He maneuvered to get away from an defender, then drove a 22-yarder into the right side of the net.
Washington's best chance to break onto the scoreboard came immediately after that. John Hengel got a pass from Marshall Plow, came straight down the center, and fired for the low left corner. Peacock parried it wide for a corner kick which the Yellowjackets cleared.
Richards picked up a ball 10 yards over midfield, even with a defender. He out-ran the defender into the clear, ran 25 yards down the center of the pitch, and scored his first collegiate goal as Smelcer backpedaled and dove.
The final goal, scored against Kruse, came after a shot from the top of the box was blocked. The ball rolled to McDonald 15 yards from goal. He drove it into the right side of the net.
