PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester scored two goals in the final eight minutes to break a scoreless tie and defeat William Smith College 2-0 in the Liberty League conference opener on Friday evening at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
UR's victory, its third in a row, pushes Rochester's record to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the Liberty League. William Smith, who was among others receiving votes in the latest NFHCA Division III poll, falls to 6-2 and 0-1 in conference play.
Rochester's goals came from first-year
Anya Arseneau and junior
Bella Militi, with teammates
Karina Bridger and
Maeve Fogarty picking up assists.
Kara Houston played all 60 minutes in goal and made two saves, earning the shutout in her first collegiate start.
The game was a slog in the midfield for the better part of three quarters, with the teams combining for just four total shot attempts, none of which were on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
Early in the second quarter, Rochester's
Lesley Leatherman sent a hard pass from along the right sideline into the circle looking for Militi in front, but the two couldn't connect for the first scoring chance of the game.
With 4:40 left in the third quarter, UR's Fogarty earned a breakaway after a back pass by the Herons was mishandled. William Smith goalkeeper Kristen McCormick made nice play though, coming off her line eight yards before sliding to break up Fogarty's chance. McCormick ended with one save on the night.
In the final minute of the quarter, William Smith used a turnover deep in Rochester territory to earn its first shot of the game, an attempt from Emily Leonard, but her shot sailed wide.
Things began to pick up a bit in the fourth, with Rochester converting a penalty corner goal in the 53rd minute for the 1-0 lead.
Mara Heppard inserted the ball to Bridger along the left wing edge of the circle. She sent the ball in towards goal and saw it slip past the defense and keeper, right to Arseneau's stick for the tap in at the far post.
William Smith responded with its best offensive output of the game, earning four straight penalty corners over the next three minutes.
On the first Heron corner, Rebecca Mantione had a shot blocked in front by Heppard, with the rebound attempt by Mackenzie Wodka sailing wide.
William Smith's next corner resulted in a shot on goal from Mary Kate Breward, but her left wing blast had no traffic in front and Houston made the easy kick save.
The third corner saw Sofia Pattillo get a shot off for the Herons, with Houston again denying, and the fourth PC ended when Breward's shot missed wide.
Rochester added an insurance goal in the games final minute when Fogarty gained possession and dribbled along the endline on the left side of the William Smith cage. She sent a cross in front to a wide open Militi for the tap-in goal.
The box score saw both teams finish with six shots, with UR holding a slim 5-4 edge in corners.
Rochester is off for a week and returns to action on Saturday, October 1st in another league matchup at Skidmore. William Smith has a quick turnaround, facing Elmira College at home on Sunday.
