University of Rochester Athletics

Senior Jessica Smith scored two goals less than a minute apart in the first half to power the University of Rochester women's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Alfred University on Tuesday evening.

The Yellowjackets (3-0) have already matched their win total from 2012 led by the strong scoring prowess of Smith and excellent defense and ball control.
 
The Saxons drop to 0-3 on the year.
 
The two teams played pretty even throughout the first 20 minutes of play, with Rochester controlling possession but not getting many good looks.
 
The first good scoring chance came in the 20th minute when sophomore Katie Grasso got a shot on net that was saved at the right post by Alfred keeper Samijo Scheer.
 
Smith was able to then break through at 22:08 when she fired a shot past Scheer into the low right corner of the net.  Less than one minute later, Smith tallied her second of the night and fifth in three games by winning a one-on-one battle with the Saxon goalie.
 
10 minutes into the second half, Rochester nearly made it 3-0, but Grace Van Der Ven's hard shot from the left side was punched high by Scheer.  Freshman Kim Stagg also had a golden chance with 32:50 to play, but her shot from straight on just sailed high of the net.
 
Stagg was able to connect with her sister Lee though with just over five minutes remaining in the game.  Kim dribbled up the right side and sent a beautiful cross into the box, right to her sisters foot who promptly found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal and a 3-0 lead.
 
UR held the statistical advantage on the night, firing 21 shots total and earning nine corners.  Alfred's keeper Scheer stopped five shots in the loss while senior Allison Bernstein didn't face a shot in the UR net.
 
Rochester's next game is Friday at Rensselaer.