ST. LOUIS – The University of Rochester women's soccer team fell behind to host Washington University in St. Louis in the early going and was unable to make a comeback in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the host Bears on Sunday afternoon in a UAA conference matchup.
 
The Yellowjackets drop a game for just the second time in 11 matches this season, falling to 5-2-4, 0-1-1 in the University Athletic Association. Washington picks up its first conference win, moving to 1-1 in the UAA, and 6-2-5 overall.
 
Washington took the early lead in the games fourth minute on its third shot of the game. The Bears' Anna Viscovich fired a shot on UR goalkeeper Gabby Sabatier who made the save, but a rebound bounced out to Marilee Karinshak who deposited it into the net for a 1-0 Bears lead.
 
UR's offense gained its first solid scoring chance in the 13th minute, earning a corner kick. After the set piece by Mia McGinty, the ball bounced around to Emma Cohen in close on the left side, but the defenders shot sailed high of the net. McGinty ended up with the Yellowjackets first shot of the game in the opening 60 seconds.
 
The rest of the opening half, Rochester was held without a shot, as Washington held a 6-2 shot advantage at intermission.
 
Early in the second half, Rochester earned a corner kick, but the second corner of the game for the Yellowjackets did not develop a scoring opportunity.
 
The Bears responded a few minutes later with a goal, doubling the lead at 53:39. Maggie Brett dribbled in close to the UR net drawing two defenders her along the right side. Brett dropped a pass across the goal mouth to Ella Koleno who was left unmarked and shot the ball into an open net.
 
Rochester was forced into attack mode the rest of the contest, but was unable to scrape together a goal to get back into the game. Claire Grover had a shot on goal in the 61st minute, testing Wash U keeper Sidney Conner for the first time, with Connor making the save.
 
UR kept the offensive pressure on in the last dozen minutes, but shots from Carly Fields and Grover were sent wide and blocked away by the Bears defense. In the closing two minutes, McGinty fired another shot on goal, but Conner made another save, finishing off the shutout with two saves.
 
In Rochester's goal, Sabatier ended with three saves.
 
The Yellowjackets return to Rochester for a doubleheader weekend next Friday and Sunday, hosting Brandeis and NYU. Friday nights 7:30 pm game will serve as Senior Day for the Yellowjackets.