The University of Rochester women's soccer team got off to a strong start to the 2013 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Endicott College in the opener of the Flower City Classic on Friday afternoon.
Rochester (1-0-0) got first half goals from junior
Ashley Hunt and senior
Jessica Smith to propel them past the Gulls (0-1-0). Endicott scored to make it 2-1 in the second half when Nicole Fournier slid one past Yellowjacket keeper
Allison Bernstein after a UR turnover.
Bernstein made the play of the game though with 11:34 left and Rochester clinging to a one goal lead, stopping a point blank opportunity from the Gulls Ashley Mueskes. After that missed chance, the Rochester defense was able to settle down and control the tempo of the remaining time, securing the victory, the teams first in its last eight contests.
Rochester was able to get on the board first when Hunt tapped in a loose ball off a corner kick from senior
Grace Van Der Ven. The corner was earned after freshman
Kim Stagg beat the Endicott defender and had a shot deflected out of bounds by the Gull defender.
UR then boosted its lead to 2-0 when Smith, who was the top offensive player in the game, generated her own scoring chance off a high ball. The senior settled it to herself, made a move around a defender and fired it past Endicott keeper Katie Donnelly.
UR control the first half possession, but the Gulls were able to stay in the game nearly evening UR in shots (7-6), corners (2-2).
In the second half, Endicott seemed to maintain pressure and generate more chances. The Gulls had two corners early in the period and then were able to break through at 58:50 when Fournier found the back of the net. She was able to strip the Rochester defender of the ball 30 yards out and then fired a low shot past Bernstein to make the score 2-1.
Bernstein ended up making three saves in the victory while Donnelly made four stops for the Gulls. The teams tied in shots at 10 apiece and corners with four.
Endicott's next game in the classic will be against Union College at 12 pm on Saturday while UR takes on Union at 10 am on Sunday to complete the tournament.
