PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – University of Rochester celebrated its Senior Night against the Brandeis University Judges on Friday at Edwin Fauver Stadium, and capped off the evening with Natalie Kocsis' 86th-minute, game-winner to take home their first conference victory of the year.
 
A wide shot from Caroline Swan got the Judges and Yellowjackets going on Friday evening as the two sides traded blows in the early going.
 
Gabby Sabatier picked up her first save of the night on Morgan Collins' seventh-minute shot, while early shots by Savannah Berry and Claire Grover went wide.
 
Grover nearly gave UR the lead in the 19th minute, as she beat her defender and got a shot off just past the keeper, but it sailed just wide, keeping the two sides scoreless.
 
Makenna Hunt and Kocsis then traded shots on goal in the 24th and 25th minutes, before a 33rd-minute corner set up an opportunity for Brandeis.
 
Sabatier saved Bailey Cullen's shot through, and Rochester's final two shots of the period sailed wide, sending the 'Jackets and Judges into the locker room without a score.
 
Brandeis then began to take control in the second, outshooting UR, 8-3 in the period. But Sabatier and the Yellowjacket defense kept the Judges off the scoreboard, as Juliette Carriero's 58th-minute shot was saved.
 
Midway through the second half, Brandeis again looked to score, with a great cross into the box, but Grace Regenstrief saved a sure-fire goal clearing the ball before it could reach Sydney Lenhart's foot and almost assuredly give the Judges a 1-0 lead.
 
Sabatier added to her save tally in the 74th minute, stopping Morgan Clark's shot, while Sarah Martin picked up UR's first shot of the second half in the 72nd minute, sending one wide.
 
Rochester's offense picked up in the 84th minute, with Grover making a run before Kocsis then broke the seal in the 86th minute.
 
Carolyn Richards found Kocsis in some open space, and Kocsis buried it past Hannah Bassan and into the back of the net to give Rochester a 1-0 lead.
 
Rochester would then hold on for the win, not allowing a Brandeis shot the rest of the way to finish off the 1-0 victory.
 
The 'Jackets move to 6-2-4 (1-1-1 UAA) with the win, while Brandeis falls to 6-5-1 (0-3 UAA) with the loss.
 
Kocsis and Martin each led UR with two shots, with Kocsis netting the game-winner off Richards' assist.
 
In goal, Sabatier made five saves, as the Yellowjackets were outshot, 13-8, and conceded eight corners, but pulled out the victory.
 
Rochester next hosts the New York University Violets for their regular season, home finale on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Fauver Stadium.