University of Rochester Athletics

GENEVA, NY – An early second half goal by first-year Cesca Sheppard, coupled with a blank sheet from first-year keeper Emma Schechter, lifted the University of Rochester women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Stevenson University on Friday afternoon at William Smith College.
 
Rochester and Stevenson, along with host William Smith and Hardin-Simmons University make up the field of the 2018 William Smith Stand On Their Shoulders Invitational.
 
Sheppard's goal came in the 52nd minute when she received a header pass from first-year teammate Carolyn Richards, outran her defender, and snuck inside the 18 before launching a left-footed shot into the right side of the net, just passed the outstretched arms of Mustang goalkeeper Keegan Caffrey.
 
Margaret Lee started the sequence for the Yellowjackets, intercepting a Mustang clearance attempt in the middle of the field before sending in a ball to Richards who set up the score.
 
For Rochester (1-0-0), Schechter was credited with four saves in her first collegiate appearance, with none bigger than one in the opening minute of the second half.  After a long cross into the box from the left side, Stevenson's Melanie Parncutt tapped a point blank shot at goal, only to see Schechter get just enough of the ball, deflecting it into the crossbar.
 
The rebound went right to another Mustang, Marissa Inglisa, but her follow-up attempt sailed high of the cage.
 
Shortly after the back-to-back Stevenson chances, UR's Richards was able to direct two shots in a span of 30 seconds at Caffrey in the Mustang goal, but Stevenson keeper turned away both shots to keep the game scoreless.  Richards ended up with a game-high six shots, five of which were on target.  Caffrey made a total of seven saves in the contest for SU.
 
After the early shots on goal by Stevenson (0-1-0) in the second half, the UR defense clamped down and only surrendered one attempt over the final 40 minutes of the contest, one which was blocked away on a strong play by Shayna Levy in the 77th minute, breaking up a the Mustang's final scoring chance.
 
Meanwhile, Rochester, with the help of an onslaught of substitutions, 25 total players played, used fresh legs to continually apply offensive pressure and maintain ball possession.  In the second half, UR held a 7-4 shot edge and earned the games only three corner kicks.  Overall in the game, the Yellowjackets would hold the advantage with 13 shots to Stevenson's nine.
 
UR is back in action on Saturday afternoon on day two of the tournament against 4th-ranked Hardin Simmons University.  Kick-off is scheduled for 1 pm.