University of Rochester Athletics

PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – It was a game that featured nearly everything, runs, lead changes, animal delays and excellent play, visiting RIT narrowly defeated the University of Rochester 13-12 on a last possession goal at Fauver Stadium on Friday afternoon.
 
RIT's Steph Darrell found the back of the net with just 6.2 seconds on the clock to lift the Tigers to victory. The win, which does not count in the Liberty League standings, despite the teams being conference opponents, moves RIT to 6-2 on the year. UR falls in its third straight game, moving to 2-3 on the season.
 
Friday's game was a late replacement on the schedule after this weekend's scheduled home-and-home with St. Lawrence was canceled. UR and RIT will meet to close the regular season on April 23 and 24.
 
The Yellowjackets got off to a great start in the early going, jumping out to a 3-0 lead five and a half minutes into the contest. Zoe Sullivan, Kendra Jones and Emma Little notched the early tallies for UR.
 
RIT responded with six straight goals over the next 16 minutes to surge ahead 6-3. Alanna Fallone had four goals in the spurt, while Skylar Burlee and Darrell each added a single score.
 

To close the half, Little scored back-to-back goals, just 24 seconds apart to trim the lead, with RIT heading into intermission with a 6-5 margin.
 
After a late card in the opening half, Rochester started the second period a player up, and Brooke Fiannaca capitalized by scoring her first goal of the year to tie the score at six, coming 43 seconds into the half.
 
A goal from Sullivan followed just 26 seconds later and Rochester had its first lead since early in the first half.
 
RIT's Darrell responded to tie it a minute later and Baylee West notched the go-ahead goal in the 34th minute.
 
After Lucy Haggerty found the twine after a nifty pass from Clare Heffernan on a fast break, the score was once again tied with 24:50 on the clock.
 
The Tigers would again edge ahead though, with Olivia Africa and Fallone each scoring less than 30 seconds apart to pull RIT up 10-8.
 
Rochester's Fiannaca made the score 10-9 and Liz McGinn scored her first of the year to pull the Yellowjackets even. Grace Crochiere made it three straight goals for Rochester to pull UR up 11-10 with just over ten minutes left.
 
RIT answered again, this time it was Africa and Burlee scoring to see the Tigers pull in front by one with under eight to play.
 
After Burlee scored, there was a brief delay before the draw control as the River Campus dubbed 'Quad Fox' made an appearance on the field. After a quick snack near the fence, the unofficial campus wild animal mascot slipped through the fence and play continued.
 
Rochester's Haggerty nearly tied the score again with seven minutes left but her shot nicked the crossbar. After an RIT turnover caused by Paige Smith, UR regained possession and earned a free position in the Tigers offensive zone. Jones stepped up and connected on a goal, evening the score at 12-all with 4:33 on the clock.
 
After the Yellowjackets earned the draw, a turnover gave the ball back to the Tigers. RIT's West first fired high and the Carlie Bendavid recorded a big save to keep the score even as the clock ticked below 2:30.
 
Rochester cleared to RIT's end, but another turnover, caused by RIT's McKenna Joint allowed the Tigers to regain possession and hold for essentially the last shot. The ball ended up in Darrell's stick and her shot from out deep in the lane beat Bendavid stick side for the game-winner.
 
UR controlled the ensuing draw, but did not have enough time to get a shot attempt off.
 
For the game, Rochester's Little finished with three goals and an assist, while also securing eight draws. Jones had two goals and two assists while causing three turnovers and picking up four ground balls.
 
Sullivan finished with three points (2 G, 1 A), and Fiannaca ended with two goals. Bendavid made 12 saves in goal.
 
RIT was led by Fallone who had five goals, five draws and five ground balls. Darrell finished with three goals and Africa and Burlee each added two goals and an assist. In goal, Paulina Goodermote finished with eight saves for the Tigers.