University of Rochester Athletics

PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – A high-powered University of Rochester women's soccer offense notched six goals, two in the first half and four in the second, to breeze past visiting Buffalo State on Tuesday evening at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
Rochester (9-0-3) remains unbeaten on the season, closing out non-conference play with Tuesday's victory. Buffalo State falls to 5-5-3 on the year.
 
The Yellowjackets got points from eight different players, while five individuals scored goals. Claire Grover notched two goals and an assist, while Katharina Probst tallied a marker and helper off the bench. Additional goals for Rochester were from Sarah Martin, Emma Cohen and Natalie Kocsis.
 
Grover's two-score game was her third multi-goal effort of the season, boosting the senior's career total to 31, moving into a tie for fourth all-time in Rochester women's soccer history.
 
Rochester applied the offensive pressure early and often on Tuesday, earning the game's first corner kick just 39 seconds into the match. On that corner, Megan Pung headed in a shot from the crease towards the right post, but Buffalo State's Carm Mercurio stationed there to make the team save.
 
At the nine minute mark, Mia McGinty had two chances for the Yellowjackets, but she clanged her initial shot off the left post and saw a rebound attempt in close on the right side blocked away.
 
Buffalo State's Elle Bush had the Bengals' best chance of the contest in the 19th minute. She received a through ball from Eve DiCarlo and made a move in the box near the left post, cutting back from the end line, but fired a shot wide left of the goal.
 
Two minutes later, Rochester's Martin scored the opening goal of the contest. Lauren Blanch took an initial shot that was blocked, ricocheting off a couple of Bengal defenders and out to Martin ten yards off the line. The UR senior took a turn-around shot with her left foot that snuck past the defense and Addy Williams in the Buffalo state goal.
 

Grover scored her first of the game in the 27th minute off a beautiful setup from Probst along the left side. The pass led Grover into open space near the crease and after settling the ball, she easily took a left footed shot that found the net on the right side.
 
Martin, Jordyn Kowalkowski, Maya Bravo and Syd Coggins all had shots on frame in the closing minutes of the half, but Williams made four saves on those attempts, keeping Buffalo State within two at intermission.
 
After the Bengals earned an early corner kick in the second half, it was nearly all Rochester the rest of the way.
 
In the 58th minute, a Buffalo State foul in the box yielded a penalty kick for the Yellowjackets. Martin stepped up to the spot, but Williams came up with a big save. Martin tried a follow-up attempt, but saw the first-year Bengal keeper again deny the chance.
 
Rochester's lead extended to three at 66:09 by Kocsis off a nifty passing play from her, Blanch and Grover. Kocsis started the play with an interception and dropped a pass off to Blanch 25 yards out. Blanch dumped the ball over to Grover who sent a perfect give-and-go through ball up to a streaking Kocsis who earned her third goal of the season.
 
The floodgates opened after that, with Probst picking up her goal off a deflected shot, Cohen scoring on a header off a corner kick and Grover tallying her second in the game's final minute.
 
Overall in the game, Rochester led 33-3 in shots, with 20 attempts hitting the target. UR earned 11 of the 12 corner kicks in the game.
 
In goal, Grace Kuropatkin played all 90 minutes for Rochester and made one save in the shutout.
 
Williams finished with 11 saves for the Bengals over 78 minutes, while reserve keeper Moira Penot stopped on save in 12 minutes of action.
 
The rest of the way, Rochester will take part in UAA conference contests, beginning this Saturday morning against #6 ranked Case Western Reserve University.