Over the last 15 years of competition, the University of Rochester athletic teams have seen many successes both on and off the fields of competition.
 
In this 'Era of Excellence' series, we look back at some of the top moments and seasons from the past and highlight what made these events so special.
 
Kicking off the series is the Rochester softball season of 2014.
 
That year, the Yellowjackets finished with a remarkable 32-14 record and were dominant in Liberty League competition, going 10-2 during the regular season against conference foes.
 
UR earned the #2 seed and played the Liberty League playoffs at RPI, and despite dropping its opening game, battled back with four straight wins, including three shutouts in a row, to capture the league title and automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament.
 
The NCAA then called upon Rochester to host games in the regionals for the first time in team history, with the Yellowjackets again coming out of the losers bracket to win back-to-back games on the final day against Alfred to advance in the tournament.
 
Super regionals were against 15th-ranked Rowan University where UR pitching was dominant and hitting was clutch. The Yellowjackets won 5-0 in game one of the best of three and then earned a dramatic 3-0 win in extra innings in game two to reach the NCAA Division III Championship round in Tyler, Texas.
 
Although Rochester's season ended with two losses in Texas, the 2014 season stands above the rest in the ranks of the best seasons in Yellowjacket softball history.
 
Individual accolades in 2014 included All-American honors for infielders Nina Korn and Tayler Fravel. Fravel was selected to the NCAA Division III All-Tournament team. Korn was selected as Liberty League Player of the Year and tournament MVP, with teammates Brittany Grage and Eleni Wechsler earning conference Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.
 
Head coach Margaret Yerdon-Grange and her coaching staff were the NFCA Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year and the Yellowjackets finished up the year ranked #13 in the final Division III Coaches Poll.