CLEVELAND, OH - The University of Rochester used three goals from freshmen in a 4-0 victory over 23rd ranked Case Western Reserve University on Sunday afternoon.
 
Rochester moves to 6-5-1 with the victory and evens up its UAA conference slate at 2-2 while Case Western Reserve falls to 7-4-3 and is 0-3-1 in the UAA.  The 4-0 victory is UR's biggest since winning by the same score since the second game of the 2014 season against Eastern Nazarene.
 
In the opening minute of the game, visiting Rochester was able to get on the board with the first career goal from freshman Christina Feller.  Feller gained possession along the left wing, moved down towards the endline and chipped a tough angled shot that found the back of the net just over the outstretched arms of the Case Western Reserve goalie.
 
The Spartans looked to answer right back 28 seconds later, when Alexa Williams had a shot inside the box off a scramble in the middle of the field.  The play was saved by Rochester keeper Madilynne Lee after she took the brunt of a collision between three players on the play.
 
The 17th minute saw another great scoring chance for the Yellowjackets, this time from senior Lauren Pien.  A cross was sent from the left side by freshman McKenzie Runyan to the edge of the goal area where Pien, who was blanketed by a defender, had her shot forced high of the net.
 
At the 32:33 mark of the first half, UR boosted its lead to 2-0 off an own goal by the Spartans.  Rochester had possession along the right sideline and chipped a ball that was deflected towards the net, pulling Case keeper Megan Romelfanger out of the net.  After that, the ball found the foot of UR freshman Kerri Eden who sent a cross in front looking for teammate Lee Stagg, when a Spartan defender deflected the ball into her own net.
 
Eden then nearly scored herself in the 39th minute after a great through ball had her one-on-one with a defender inside the penalty area.  The Case Western Reserve defender made a strong play though, deflecting the shot away for a UR corner kick.
 
At the break, UR held a 6-1 edge in shots and took the only corner kick of the opening 45 minutes.
 
It was more of the same dominant Rochester offense in the second half.  Rochester boosted the lead to 3-0 at the 54:36 mark.  Freshman Shayna Levy curled in a 25 yard shot from the left wing, sneaking the ball just inside the right post.  It was Levy's first career score as a Yellowjacket.
 
In the 66th minute, Jean Chakmakas had a shot at an open net after a chipped ball pulled Romelfanger out of the Case net, but the UR junior sent her chance just high.  Two minutes later, freshman Margaret Lee nearly scored off a scramble in the goal area off a Yellowjacket corner kick.
 
At the 80 minute mark, the Spartans got their best chance to score in the contest.  A shot from the wing by Makenzie Best was saved by Lee in the UR net, but the ball rebounded off the keeper to a wide open Rachel Hammond who couldn't control her shot, sending the opportunity wide of the goal.
 
With under five minutes to play, Eden earned her first career goal after junior Kim Stagg chipped a ball into the box where the freshman Eden flipped the ball past the keeper for a 4-0 Rochester lead.
 
Overall in the game, Rochester had a 14-6 shot advantage and took four of the five corner kicks.  Both Lee for Rochester and Romelfanger for Case made three saves in the nets.
 
Rochester's next contest is a Wednesday evening game at Keuka College.  Kick-off is slated for 7 pm.