CHICAGO, IL – The 2nd-ranked University of Chicago used a late goal to defeat the 4th-ranked University of Rochester men's soccer team 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Chicago's Stagg Field in the University Athletic Association conference opener for both teams.
 
Chicago's Kyle Ruark notched the goal with under two minutes to play, breaking the scoreless tie, sending Chicago's record to 10-0-1 and 1-0-0 in UAA play.  Rochester drops its first game of the year, moving to 7-1-0 and 0-1-0 in the UAA.
 
The top-5 matchup lived up to its billing, with both teams contributing spells of excellent play, generating a number of scoring chances throughout.  Overall, Chicago led the game with 14 shots to UR's six, but the Yellowjackets held the edge with six corner kicks to UC's four.
 
In the opening ten minutes, Rochester's Anurag Dwivedi provided the first strong opportunity for the visiting Yellowjackets.
 
At 5:11, a long cross from the left side found Dwivedi eight yards out who headed the ball right on towards the top of the net, but Chicago keeper Aaron Katsimpalis reacted quick, making a leaping save.
 
Dwivedi again nearly made it 1-0 UR at the nine minute mark, but his chipped shot sailed just wide off a corner kick from teammate Mitch Volis.
 
After a strong start offensively from Rochester, Chicago attempted to turn the tables for the latter part of the opening half.
 
A Rochester foul just outside the box in the 32nd minute gave the Maroons an excellent chance with a free kick from 20 yards, but Matthew Koh's attempt found the UR wall and was deflected away.
 
Less than a minute later, UC's Max Lopez had a hard header attempt off a corner kick saved by Rochester keeper Patrick Conway in the net.  The Yellowjacket senior finished the day with four saves.
 
Bryce Ikeda had an open look from the edge of the box in the 42nd minute for the Yellowjackets, but his left footed attempt was sent high and wide left as the final scoring chance of the opening half.
 
15 minutes into the second half, Chicago's Isaiah Holquist received a deflected ball along the left wing about 20 yards out, but his volley blast trickled wide of the UR net.
 
Katsimpalis made back-to-back impressive saves in the 63rd minute, denying Rochester's Josh Cooley and Ulrik Koren chances to pull UR ahead.  After a long throw, the ball made its way out to Cooley whose 12 yard attempt was saved right to Koren who was camped out at the right post.  Koren's point blank chance then was saved away by the Chicago keeper who finished with three saves on the day.
 
Lopez narrowly missed another goal in the 71st minute when UC executed a nice give and go.  Scott Lich ended up sending the final pass into the box to Lopez who flicked a header towards the left post, only to see it fly just wide.
 
Ruark then broke the tie with a great individual effort at 88:07.  He made a nice juke move along the right wing about 12 yards off the line, beating his defender, then chipped his curling shot in the perfect spot, just inside the left post for a 1-0 UC lead.
 
The Yellowjackets did earn a corner kick less than a minute later, but Chicago packed it in defensively to preserve the lead, not allowing a UR shot the rest of the way.
 
Rochester looks to get back to its winning ways on Wednesday when the Yellowjackets host Keuka College in a 7:30 pm matchup at Fauver Stadium.  Chicago's next matchup is a road UAA contest at Emory University on Saturday.