ROCHESTER, NY- The Yellowjackets suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss 2-1 to the Bears of Washington University of St. Louis (14-1-1, 4-0-1) despite taking a first half lead off Sappio goal.
Rochester looked to control the game in the first half of Friday evening's game with multiple scoring chances. Early in the game Rochester's Grace Van der Ven crossed a free kick in front of the Bear's goal just out of reach of the diving
Kristina Diaz. Shortly after,
Lauren Kee sent a high shot into the box when the ball took a wild bounce and almost found the top right corner of the net, missing just wide.
With 11:50 left in the first half
Alaina Wayland streaked down the sideline and sent a low fast cross into the box that was headed by
Christine Keck through the hands of Washington's Hilary Stepansky's hands and was finally put in the net by
Katie Sappio putting the Yellowjackets up 1-0 to finish the first half.
In the second half the Bears took control of the game and kept the Rochester defense on their heels with a staggering offensive attack. Fifteen minutes into half Olivia Lillegraven of Wash U sent a rocket over the crossbar on a pass from Tessa Klumpp.
The Bears looked to be in trouble when their leading scorer, Anna Zambricki, was injured by a charging save by
Bridget Lang who punched the ball out of harm's way on a free kick from Kate Doyle. However, Zambricki would quickly shrug off the injury and return to the game.
With 14:35 left in the half the Bears were able to tie the game during a scramble in front of the Yellowjacket net. Washington's Abby Starker managed to free the ball from the pack and pass it to Jen Reed who would find the wide open Lillie Toaspern six yards out and Toaspern was able to squeeze the ball past the diving Lang.
A series of headers by Wash U's Reed and Zambricki barraged the Yellowjacket goal but were turned away Lang as the second half came to a close in a 1-1 tie.
The Bears were able to carry their momentum into OT and found the back of the net two minutes in on Toaspern's second goal of the night. Toaspern was set up by an impressive heeled ball by Lillegraven and was able to send a rifling shot into the lower right corner of the net to end the game.
The Yellowjackets dropped to 3-11-1 on the season and play host to the University of Chicago (11-5) Sunday morning at 10 AM.
