PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester women's soccer team recorded its first-ever undefeated regular season on Saturday, earning a 2-1 win over Emory University at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
Rochester's victory moves the Yellowjackets to 12-0-5 overall, ending the regular season with zero losses for the first time in the 45-year history of the women's soccer program. 6th-ranked UR also wraps up UAA play with a 3-0-4 record, ending as the league's runner-up by one point in the standings.
 
The UAA's leading scorer Claire Grover added two more to her total this season, notching both of Rochester's second half goals, as the Yellowjackets rallied after Emory (8-5-4, 1-4-2 UAA) scored the game's opening goal in the 63rd minute.
 
Grover's two scores were her 14th and 15th of the year, moving her into a tie for third in UR's single-season goal scoring history. Overall, in her three-season career, the senior is now up to 34 goals, also ranking third all-time at Rochester.
 
Rochester started out the game with a strong chance almost immediately off the opening kickoff. Just 21 seconds into the match, Natalie Kocsis received a back pass from Lauren Blanch and fired a rocket at the goal from 23 yards out, with Emory goalkeeper Sophia Garcia making the save.
 
In the eighth minute, Blanch had her own good scoring opportunity, evading a pair of Eagle defenders and firing a shot at the goal from the left wing. The attempt deflected perfectly toward the far post, but Garcia made another diving save to keep the game scoreless.
 
As the clock approached the 29-minute mark, Sarah Martin ripped another hard shot on goal from 25 yards, connecting after a bouncing ball settled to her feet in the center of the field. Once again, Garcia needed to dive to make the save, sprawling to her right. Emory's keeper finished with six saves on the day.
 

Rochester held most of the possession in the opening half, but was unable to break through for a goal, and the teams went into intermission tied at 0-0.
 
Emory was able to break the scoreless game at 62:01, with Kaitlyn Nimmer recording her Emory-leading ninth goal of the season.
 
The play started near midfield with Grace Reyer dribbling to find open space along the left sideline. Reyer sent a long cross into the box where Nimmer volleyed the ball perfectly into the upper right hand corner of the net.
 
The Eagles didn't have the lead for long though, as Grover's first of the day came less than a minute later.
 
Defender Tess Peterson pinched up on the play and stole the ball near midfield and fired a shot on net from over 20 yards out, forcing Garcia to make a save. She could not fully corral the chance though, letting a rebound loose in the crease, where Grover was waiting to fire it into the net. The ball just crossed over the goal line before being kicked away by a defender sliding into the net.
 
UR's game-tying goal inspired the Yellowjackets with Rochester having multiple opportunities in the next few minutes.
 
Riya Kunderan headed a shot past Garcia but just wide off a corner kick pass from Peterson in the 66th minute. 90 seconds later, she found Grover streaking towards the goal along the left side, with that shot slipping just outside of the right post, keeping the scored tied 1-1.
 
With just over seven minutes left in the game, Grover received a long pass from Martin outrunning a pair of Eagle defenders to set up a 1-on-1 with Garcia. The defensive recovery from Emory's back line forced Grover to not get a good look, with Garcia making the stop.
 
Grover broke the tie for Rochester in the 86th minute. She started the play by dropping a pass back to Martin who one-timed a strike towards the left post. Garcia's diving save redirected the ball to Sydney Holmes who flicked a ball towards the goal that deflected off the post and right to Grover who tapped in the game-winner.
 
Right after the go-ahead goal, Emory looked to answer in a similar fashion to what Rochester did earlier in the game. Shortly following the restart Kylie Hall sent a long ball into the from the left side that caromed off the right post. The loose ball then found the foot of Mia Han who took a 12-yard one-timer on frame, with Grace Kuropatkin making the save for Rochester.
 
Emory earned another late corner, with Mara Rodriguez heading a shot towards the goal on the play, but UR's defense was able to clear it and preserve the win.
 
In goal, the Yellowjackets Kuropatkin made three saves, picking up the victory. For the game, Rochester led 19-10 in shots and had seven of the contests ten corner kicks.
 
Prior to the game, UR's seniors were celebrated with a Senior Day ceremony with their families, honoring their four years of service with the program. Grover, Martin, Peterson, Mia McGinty, Megan Pung, Olivia Geno and Calista Courtney make up the Yellowjackets senior class of 2024.
 
Rochester will now await their fate from the NCAA Division III national committee for selection into the NCAA Division III Tournament which starts next weekend.