BUFFALO, NY – Rochester scored goals 15 seconds apart late in the first quarter to move in front of D'Youville College and went on to an 18-6 women's lacrosse victory over the Saints on Wednesday afternoon.
 
It was the season opener for both teams. Rochester is scheduled to play at SUNY Oneonta on Saturday (home opener for the Red Dragons that day).
 
The Yellowjackets spread the ball around on offense. Six players scored goals. Five players had assists. Seven of the eight who made it into the scorebook in either category figured in more than one goal.
 
First-years Hannah Goldberg and Gracie Giannettino were the leading scorers for Rochester. Goldberg scored four goals and assisted on two others. Giannettino scored five goals. Grace Crochiere scored four goals and picked up one assist. Lucy Haggerty had three assists. Brooke Fiannaca and Emma Little scored a pair of goals each. Anne Traczyk had one of each, and Sophia Stafford had one assist.
 
Rochester attacked relentlessly. The Yellowjackets moved into transition mode with ease: force a turnover, pick up the ball, and go. Make a stop on defense and follow the same pattern. In the first half, goalkeeper Ava Saffren faced 11 shots – seven were on goal. She saved four of those. She made two saves in the second half and finished with six overall. The UR defense shut down D'Youville's attack, holding the Saints to a total of 11 shots at goal in the first two periods.
 
Finnaca scored the Rochester opener. Marissa Malvaso, who scored four goals and assisted on a fifth tally, equalized midway through the period. Little put UR back in front quickly, 15 seconds after the Malvaso equalizer. D'Youville scored two goals, including the second one on the afternoon Malvaso. Giannettino evened the score at 3-3. She cut in from right wing, stopped just outside the critical scoring area, and fired the ball past Brinn Stworzydlak. Little gave the Yellowjackets the lead for good 15 seconds later, cutting towards goal off a free position.
 
Goldberg scored two times in the second period and assisted on a third goal. Rochester outscored D'Youville, 6-0, in that period to take a 10-3 edge into the halftime break.