University of Rochester Athletics

An athlete's final game is sometimes a melancholy affair – playing with teammates for the last time, knowing you won't be able to enjoy the spirit of competition with people who have become your friends.
 
Unless that game is the time you score the first goal of your collegiate career and it provides a welcome season-ending victory.
 
Kailee Zornow did exactly that on Saturday night, hitting a long hopeful ball from right wing with the Case Western Reserve goalkeeper well off the line. The ball bounced over the keeper's head and into the left corner of the net in the 83^rd minute to provide a cushion as Rochester defeated Case, 2-0, at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
Lee Stagg scored the opening goal for the Yellowjackets – this one in the 60^th minute. The goals, plus seven saves from goalkeeper Aubrey Jaicks, propelled Rochester to the win.
 
 

It was all about the seniors Saturday with five of them honored in pre-game ceremonies joined by family and friends. The seniors were Zornow, Jaicks, midfielder Ashley Hunt, midfielder/defender Katie Sappio, and defender Rachel Honard.
 
Case held the upper hand in the first half, creating more chances. Jaicks was active in the box, spearing crosses and making saves. Midway through the first half, Meredith Shea hit a dipping shot well outside the 18-yard box which Jaicks punched in the air and the defense cleared. Five minutes later, she was on line to save a hard shot by Pauline Van Dijck from the top of the circle.
 
The best chance for the Spartans came in the 34^th minute. Amy Lindberg weaved through the left side, cut alone into the box, and crossed the ball into the middle. Christine Stralka's shot was parried by Jaicks. The rebound bounced free to the right side where Jessie Sabers squibbed it over the line and just outside the post trying to poach a rebound goal.
 
In the second half, Rochester had the better chances although Case had the majority of the possession. Gabriella Goddette cut into the box in the 53^rd minute, laid the ball off for Sappio who maneuvered for a better angle, and shot right at Case goalkeeper Abbey Smith (three saves).
 
Three minutes later, Laura Cowie-Haskell got into the area with no defenders nearby. As Smith charged off the line, Cowie-Haskell's shot flew past the right post – wide .
 
With a half hour to play, Rochester finally broke onto the scoreboard. Cowie-Haskell was the originator.  She pulled the ball out from deep on left wing. Case muddied the pass briefly and Sydney Melton got to it for Rochester. Melton's pass found Stagg about a yard inside the area in the middle. She fired it into the right corner of the net.
 
The Yellowjackets nearly doubled the lead eight minutes later. Cowie-Haskell put the ball in front for a cutting Sappio. A collision in the goalmouth, with Smith one of the participants, resulted in a corner kick which proved to be harmless.
 
Case had a chance to get the score level with 13 minutes left. A corner kick from Caitlyn McGillis came to Madeleine Harris on the right side of the box, 12 yards off the endline and six yards wide of the right post. Harris tried to wheel and shoot and the potential equalizer flew just outside the right post.
 
That left it to Zornow to hit the hopeful ball into the center of the area that skipped into the net. Her teammates rushed her to celebrate the extra score. And seven minutes later, the entire bench charged out to surround her and celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2015.