RIVERDALE, NY – A second half rally fell short as the University of Rochester women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision against New York University on Sunday afternoon at Gaelic Park.
The Yellowjackets fall to 6-6-1 overall on the year and 0-4 in the UAA while the Violets improve to 7-4-2 and 3-0-1 in conference.
Rochester dominated the second half of play taking nine shots to NYU's four, leading to an overall advantage of 15-9 in the shot category. Both teams ended up taking five corner kicks in the game.
UR's goal came in the 87th minute when
Carolyn Richards picked up a loose ball in the box, dribbled around a defender and hit a low shot which beat the Violet goalkeeper on the near side.
Other strong chances in the second half came from a variety of players. First-year
Kailee Sowers hit a 25 yard shot curling from the left wing toward the far post, but it sailed just wide in the 53rd minute.
Kerri Eden received the ball in the middle of the penalty area in the 84th minute, won a 1-on-1 battle with her defender and fired a turn around shot which was blocked away by the defense. On the follow up shot,
Jamison Seabury's curling attempt was saved by NYU keeper Meghan Marhan.
In the first half, NYU was able to convert on its first scoring chance of the game. At 6:15, Maddie Pena found the back of the net when she picked up a misplayed ball in the box and beat UR keeper
Samantha Hlavac 1-on-1 for her fifth goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Pena looked to double the lead, but her long shot from the left wing was saved by a leaping Hlavac in the goal.
At 12:44, UR's
Carolyn Richards blasted a hard shot from 20 yards straight on, but Marhan punched the ball above the crossbar for a corner kick, which the Violets defended away.
In the 36th minute, NYU's lead doubled to 2-0. The Violets earned a corner kick beyond midfield, and when the ball got sent in, Isabelle Turner beat her defender to the ball and headed the ball into the net, chipping it just out of reach of Hlavac who came off her line in an attempt to break up the play.
With seven minutes left in the half, UR's
Jorie Freitag scooped up a loose ball after a Violet turnover, moved into space at the edge of the box and took an open shot heading towards the right corner of the net, but Marhan was there to make the save.
Sunday's matchup was the final road game of the year as the Yellowjackets have four games left, all at Fauver Stadium. The next matchup is the final non-conference contest of the year against RIT, scheduled for Thursday at 7 pm.
