CORTLAND, NY – The University of Rochester responded well after giving up an early goal to force a 1-1 draw against SUNY Cortland on Saturday afternoon at Holloway Field.
The tie moves the Yellowjackets record to 1-0-1 on the young season. Cortland meanwhile has the same record after two games in the 2022 campaign.
Cortland was able to strike first in the early minutes, with Jaden Galluzzo scoring in the sixth minute. The Cortland forward had a long run up the midfield, made a cut back and left footed a shot from 20 yards just inside the right post.
Five minutes later, the Red Dragons threatened again, but UR's starting keeper
Becca Rust was there for a pair of saves on Galluzzo and Liz Allen.
The Yellowjackets countered quickly when
Claire Grover got in close against Cortland's goalie Kristen Spendal, but Spendal stood tall, making her first save of the contest.
Thirty minutes into the contest, Rochester's
Carolyn Richards nearly tied the game, clanging a right wing shot off the crossbar.
The Yellowjacket senior Richards got another good look a few minutes later, sprinting up midfield past her defender, lining a hard shot on goal, only to have it saved away by Spendal.
Rochester finally was able to tie the game late in the half on a goal from
Jordyn Kowalkowski. The tally came off a give-and-go play with teammate
Natalie Kocsis just outside the box. After receiving the pass, Kowalkowski broke through the Red Dragon defense on a semi-breakaway and deposited a shot to the bottom left corner of the net.
In the second half, chances were limited on both sides, with Rochester getting the best chance in the 58th minute. It was another give-and-go opportunity between
Sarah Martin and Grover, with UR's leading scorer from last year Grover just missing a shot wide left from inside the box.
With under two minutes to go, the Red Dragons earned a corner kick to put the pressure on, but the Yellowjacket defense withstood the rally and forced the draw.
In the game, Rochester held a 13-12 advantage in shots and earned six corner kicks to Cortland's four.
Rust made three saves and allowed one goal in the first half between the pipes.
Grace Kuropatkin played the second half and made one save. Spendal made four saves for Cortland in net.
Rochester's next contest is a road tilt at SUNY Brockport on Wednesday afternoon, with kickoff set for 4 pm.
