OWINGS MILLS, MD – In a matchup that statistically was very even in nearly every category, the University of Rochester women's lacrosse team came out on top where it mattered most, earning an 11-8 non-conference win over Stevenson University at Mustang Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The match saw neither team get a scoring lead of more than three goals, and the first two-goal cushion didn't come until midway through the third period.
 
Rochester (2-1) got the scoring started in the opening minute with a goal from Alyssa Gorny off a pass from Gracie Giannettino. Stevenson answered with a pair of unassisted goals, but Rochester closed the quarter with a tally from Giannettino to even the score at 2-2 after the opening period.
 
The teams traded three goals each in the second quarter, with Stevenson (0-4) getting the opening goal from Kara Yarusso in the 19th minute. Gorny had her second of the game and Lucy Haggerty scored her first in a four minute span to boost UR's lead to 4-3, but Stevenson quickly answered with two straight to edge back in front 5-4. Rochester's Emma Little scored with just 21 seconds left in the opening half of a feed from Haggerty to send the teams into halftime knotted up at 5-5.
 
In the second half, Gorny recorded her third score of the contest just 22 seconds into the period to put Rochester in front for good. Haggerty made it three straight UR goals dating back to the first half at the 8:36 mark of the third, giving the Yellowjackets the first multi-goal lead of the game at 7-5.
 
The Mustang's Kellyann Cocaccia scored a minute after Haggerty to get Stevenson back within one goal, but Anne Traczyk scored her second goal of the season with just under five minutes to play in the third, making the score 8-6 in favor of the visitors.
 
Haggerty tallied her third goal of the game a little over three minutes into the fourth to reach the game-high margin of three goals, but Stevenson did not go away, recording two goals in two minutes to get back within on goal yet again. Yarusso and Maddie Kline notched the tallied for the Mustangs, making the score 9-8 with nine minutes to go.
 
Down the stretch, Rochester got an insurance goal from Giannettino to make it 10-8 with Haggerty sealing the victory with a score in the final minute of play.
 
Haggerty finished with a game-high four goals to lead UR, adding one assist for five points. Giannettino added five points on a pair of goals and three assists. Gorny scored three goals while Little and Traczyk each finished with one score. Little also led UR with four draw controls.
 
Christiana Ciaccio led the UR defensive effort with three caused turnovers, and Ava Saffren made eight saves in goal for the Yellowjackets.
 
Rochester is back in action next Saturday when it opens up Liberty League play against Ithaca College on the road.