UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO – For the second time in five days, Rochester assembled a terrific defensive effort to secure a 0-0 double-overtime tie with John Carroll University here on Sunday afternoon. Both teams are 1-0-1.
 
John Carroll entered the game ranked 20^th in the pre-season poll of the United Soccer Coaches. In mid-week, the Blue Streaks defeated 10^th-ranked Kenyon College. On Wednesday night, Rochester edged Cortland State University, 1-0, with the gamewinning goal scored in the 87^th minute.
 
Rochester goalkeeper Santino Lupica-Tondo made six saves on 12 John Carroll shots (six on goal). His opponent, Connor Robinson, made four saves on five Rochester shots-on-goal. One save was recorded by a defender clearing the ball inside the six-yard box. The Yellowjackets had 11 shots overall.
 
The last time these teams met – in 2019 – John Carroll extracted a 2-1 victory by scoring the gamewinning goal on a penalty kick in the 90^th minute. That occurred at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
Tondo made two excellent saves late in the first half. With less than six minutes left before halftime, JCU's Larry Cersosimo angled to the idle of the penalty arc and fired marginally towards the left side of goal. Tondo pushed it to the left, then squared up against Michael Burrington and made a second stop to keep it scoreless.
 
Twenty minutes into the second half, Tondo punched a long shot by Daniel Kalic over the bar for a corner kick. A few moments earlier, the Blue Streaks crossed the ball from left wing to the back post where Benjamin Hryszko sent a diving header just past the left post.
 
Rochester found chances as well. The second half was five minutes old when a corner kick into the middle was headed strongly just over the crossbar by Tejan Borders. With 20 minutes left in regulation, Andrew Moglianesi moved to the top of the box and aimed for the left (attacking) side of the area. Robinson got there in time.
 
Another flurry came in the last seven minutes. The Yellowjackets had the ball on right wing. Nick Swanger's shot was deflected by the defense deep in the box to give the Yellowjackets a corner kick. Robinson saved the first CK for another one which proved harmless.
 
Each team had one solid chance in the first OT. The Blue Streaks earned a free kick from midfield, straight-on to goal. It resulted in a header that Tondo caught and covered up. In he 97^th minute, Will Eisold stole the ball from the Blue Streaks and passed ahead to Colin Canning for a 1 v 1 run. The ball was pushed away. One of the Yellowjackets got to it and hit a hard liner at a charging defender. As the ball rolled towards the end line and a possible corner kick, the JCU defense got to it and ran it back upfield.
 
Midway through the last period, Colin Canning was sent on a break down the left slot. He tried to get Robinson to over-commit one way or the other. He chose to lay the ball off towards a teammate streaking down the right side. A Blue Streak fullback recovered and manager to get to the ball to disrupt it. JCU's last chance came in the final minute. Chase Fernkorn headed a corner kick past the left post.
Rochester returns to Fauver Stadium in the Brian F. Prince Athletic Complex next Saturday to take on Keuka College at 7 pm.