FAUVER STADIUM – Rochester played perhaps its best game of the season  - and against a nationally ranked opponent – in posting  3-0 victory over William Smith College on Tuesday evening.
 
The game matched two Top 15 opponents with Rochester standing at #13 and William Smith at #15. Rochester was trying to bounce back from consecutive 2-1 losses – to St. John Fisher at Fauver Stadium a week ago, and then to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie last Saturday in overtime.
 
Both teams had to focus on getting a win. Entering play on Tuesday, Skidmore and William Smith led the way at 2-0. Vassar was third at 2-1. Rochester was 1-1 with St. Lawrence and Union at 1-2 and RPI at 0-3.
 
Rochester's win puts the Yellowjackets at 11-2 overall, 2-1 in the Liberty League. William Smith is 9-4 overall, 2-1 in the league.
 
The goals came from Maya Haigis – she scored twice – and Callie Fisher. The creators on each were the same people. Sayaka Abe had three assists and Olivia Denny had two. Each came from a penalty corner.
 
The entire team played dynamically. Abe withdrew into her normal midfield position and was able to carry the ball from one zone into the other and keep it away from the Herons. Denny made some good runs offensively in the first half. In the back, Colleen Maillie and Alexis Wood were able to guard the circle. Rochester challenged high, not giving WSC the chance to cut inside and create.
 
In the opening minutes though, it was William Smith with the first good scoring opportunity. Hannah Wood broke down the right sideline and whipped a pass across the front of goal. Alessandra Patrizio tried to tip it just inside the left post, but it flew by wide.
 
Rochester had good chances after that. With 11 minutes gone, Nancy Bansbach shot from eight yards out on the left side of the circle and Biz Chirco kicked it away. The ball came to Fisher and her rebound try was also kicked clear. Shortly thereafter, Denny found a way to the left post, spun, and fired. Chirco read it and drove it out. With nine minutes left, the Heron goaltender denied Fisher's wrist shot from deep on the right side.
 
The Yellowjackets scored their opener on a penalty corner with 4:16 left in the first period. Denny played it to Abe at the top of the circle. She redirected it slightly to the left where Haigis fired through a tangle of legs and sticks for it to crack against the wood in the low left corner.
 
Minutes later, a Heron PC nearly tied it. Maura Moran inserted the ball to Hannah Wood stationed on the left side. Her hard shot was knocked down by Gabrielle Cantley, but trickled behind her. Alexis Wood was there to stick the ball off the line, but referees disallowed the original shot.
 
Bansbach had a tip-in try 12 minutes into the second half, but it went wide. Midway through the period, Kiran Sundaram raced off the line to kick away a through-ball from Alexandra Frary meant for Fallon Adair.
 
The Yellowjackets added a second goal with just under 15 minutes left. It came from a penalty corner again – Denny out to Abe at the top of the key. This time, Abe maneuvered with it, trying to read the defense. When she saw an opening, she played it left side to Haigis who produced the same result she had in the first half – a liner off the wood and a 2-0 lead.
 
Fisher scored from almost an identical spot at 64:03. Denny found Abe at the top of the circle and she hit it quickly to Fisher who lined it inside the right pipe.
 
Chirco finished with four saves for William Smith in 70 minutes. Cantley played the first 35 minutes and Sundaram the second 35. Neither goalie was required to make a save.
 
Notes: Rochester hosts RPI at 2 pm on Friday. It's Fall Break weekend. The men's and women's soccer teams play a UAA doubleheader starting at 5 pm (women vs CMU, followed by men at 7:30)…. Abe's three-assist performance gives her 12 for the season. It's the 15^th time a player has registered three assists in one game… UR stays home on Sunday, hosting Elmira in a non-conference game. Soccer teams play Case Western Reserve University Sunday at 11 am (women) and 1:30 pm (men).