Scott Zorn (Churchville, NY/Churchville Chili) and Jake Cargill (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) scored 16 minutes apart in the second half as the University of Rochester pulled away for a 4-2 men's soccer win over SUNY Cortland in the Flower City Soccer Classic at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
J.J. Dennstedt (Victor, NY/Victor) and Justin Bartsch (Penfield, NY./Penfield) scored the other Rochester goals. The Yellowjackets improved to 3-0. Rochester is ranked #18 in the NSCAA Division III Pre-Season poll.
Harald Gracholski (Memel, Germany/Hermano Zudermano) scored both Cortland goals and was named the tournament's Best Offensive Player. He had Cortland's goal on Saturday in a 1-1 double overtime tie with St. John Fisher. The Red Dragons are 1-1-1 overall. Steve Axtell (Franklin, NY/Sidney) made four saves in goal.
Rochester won the team championship with six points from two matches. The Yellowjackets defeated SUNY Oswego, 2-0, on Friday night. St. John Fisher was second in the team standings. The Cardinals had four points from the tie with Cortland and a 2-0 win on Monday over Oswego. Cortland was third with one point and Oswego finished fourth.
The Most Valuable Player was Rochester's Phil Proud (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville). He had a goal and assist on Saturday night vs. Oswego, then set up a number of the set position plays for the Yellowjackets on Sunday. The Best Defensive Player award went to Rochester goalkeeper Michael Peacock (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland). He made three saves vs. Cortland and took command of the penalty area against an opponent that is skilled in counterattacks.
Cortland struck first, scoring off a corner kick. Andrew Schwert chipped the ball from the right side to the back post where Gracholski directed into the left side of the net at 11:14.
Rochester answered in 32 seconds. Scott Cady (Columbine, CO/Columbine) passed to Dennstedt just inside the area. His rising shot struck the defense, caromed over Axtell's head and into the back of the net at 11:46.
Within a minute, both teams missed chances to break the deadlock. Zorn shot wide left after a through-ball from Dennstedt and Gracholski hammered a 15-yarder past the left post.
Peacock and Axtell each made tough saves in the last 20 minutes. In a scramble following a Cortland corner kick, Matt Kutzer (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) blazed one on goal that Peacock punched away. With four minutes left in the half, Rochester's Tom Sorrentino (Leawood, KS/Rockhurst) had a waist-high blast from the center of the box that Axtell deflected.
Rochester broke through at 54:15. Dennstedt's cross from the flank was cleared. The ball came to the top of the box and Zorn hit a screen shot under Axtell's dive to put Rochester ahead, 2-1. Cortland's Steve Bartkowski (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore East) volleyed one over the crossbar less than a minute later.
With just under 20 minutes to play, Rochester earned a free kick on left wing. Jimmy Parrinello (Mill Valley, CA/Marin Academy) put it on the back post and Cargill chested it into the net.
Gracholski got the Dragons within one at 79:50. Simon Park (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) played the ball from right wing to the back post. Peacock punched it backwards. Gracholski got to it and drove it into the top right corner.
Bartsch completed the scoring at 81:51, knocking home a rebound after Axtell blocked a shot from Jacob Findlay (Fabius, NY/Fabius-Pompey) on a breakaway.
