University of Rochester Athletics

PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX: Rochester put the perfect top on Senior Day on Sunday by posting a 3-2 overtime victory over Brandeis University at Edwin Fauver Stadium. It was the ninth win of the season for the Yellowjackets (9-5-2 overall, 1-4-1 UAA). Brandeis is 10-7 overall, 1-5 in the UAA.
 
Before the game, the seven Yellowjacket seniors were honored by their teammates and head coach Sike Dardaganis: Daniella Aceves, Jorie Freitag, Gwen Haffenden, Emily Henry, Liz Mastoloni, Jamison Seabury, and Giuliana Vasile. Freitag sang the National Anthem after the starting lineups were introduced.
 
She hit all the right notes – and when the game began, the Yellowjackets did the same. They battled back from one-goal deficits twice in a first half marked by plenty of offensive fireworks. It was 2-2 at the break and stood that way into overtime.
 
Carolyn Richards scored the gamewinning goal on a breakaway pass from Cesca Sheppard just 4:11 into the extra session. Sheppard collected it just shy of midfield and hit a high ball over the top of the Brandeis defense. Richards ran step-for-step with a Brandeis defender, finally getting some space to pull away. She ran into the top right corner of the area with goalie Victoria Richardson rushing out to cut down the angle. Richards was able to drive it low to the left corner to collect the win. It was her seventh goal of the year.
 
Madison Drenowatz scored both of Rochester's goals in regulation. She nearly had one five minutes into the match. Sheppard chipped the ball to her on a breakaway. As Richardson charged off the line to challenge, Drenowatz chipped a shot at the yawning net. It went over the crossbar. Freitag forced a terrific save from Richardson four minutes later. She ran onto a crossfield pass from the right side and lined a rising shot at the top left corner of the goal. Richardson reacted in time, rushing across the goalmouth and diving to tip the ball past the post for a corner kick.
 
The first good chance for the Judges came in the 15^th minute. Juliette Carriero was free on the left flank but her shot from 12 yards out was blocked by the defenders.
 
Brandeis took the lead on a penalty kick in the 21^st minute. Katie Hayes had the ball in the area and was trying to get free for a shot. She was brought down on a defensive challenge and the spot kick awarded. Daria Bakhtiari drove the kick to the low left corner for a 1-0 lead.
 
Rochester was even within four minutes. Richards carried the ball out of the defensive midfield on the right. She saw Vasile running up the left seam and played the ball crossfield. Vasile was able to direct the ball to Drenowatz who scored to the top right corner.

 
Freitag made a key defensive play with less than 18 minutes left in the half. The ball was sent crossfield to several white shirts on the left side of goal. One player raised her foot to dummy the ball to Lauren Mastandrea just outside the crease. Her shot was blocked by Freitag.
 
A missed defensive assignment led to Brandeis taking a 2-1 lead in the 31^st minute. Ruby Seigel carried the ball down the left wing. With no one in the center of the box, Emma Spector  ran into the open space and when the service came from Seigel, she headed it over Rochester goalkeeper Emma Schechter and just under the crossbar.
 
With less than five minutes left in the half, Emily Tompkins chipped the ball over to Drenowatz and she volleyed it under the crossbar for her 14^th goal of the year.
 
UR stepped up the pressure in the second half. Richardson denied Sheppard as she tried to shoot on the turn in the 57^th minute. Immediately after that, the Yellowjackets flooded the penalty area on a corner kick and a mad scramble resulted. Torrie Welch got a foot on it with Richardson screened by bodies. She was stopped by Amanda Fernbach on the shot.
 
In the latter stages of regulation, Brandeis had chances to swipe the road win. Carriero ran ahead on a long ball down the left sideline but her shot sailed wide of the right post. Kerin Miller was blocked for a corner kick. In the scramble in the box, Schechter was out of the crease but Baktiari lofted it over the bar. Carriero was denied by Mastoloni with a block deep in the box and less than six minutes left.
 
The ball was fumbled in the box with 90 seconds to play. Sheppard rushed in but her shot went over the bar.
 
Richardson finished with four saves and the Fernbach clearance was a fifth save. Schechter had five saves as well.