PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – After falling behind midway through the first half, the 14th-ranked University responded with a late first half score and completed the comeback with two second half goals to earn a 3-1 win over the University of Chicago.
Rochester (7-1-2) got two goals from sophomore
Lauren Blanch in the win, with first-year
Natalie Santangelo registering the game-winner early in the second half. Rookie
Claudia Ferreira assisted on both of the Blanch tallies, while
Maya Bravo picked up the assist on Santangelo's score.
In the goal, senior
Grace Kuropatkin made six saves, picking up the victory.
During the early portion of the game, Chicago (8-3-0) maintained heavy possession in the Yellowjacket zone, posting three shots, none of which were on target in the first 15 minutes. At 18:16 Kuropatkin made her first save of the contest, denying Mary Stuart Kerrigan.
Shortly after play reached the 32nd minute, UC's Kamiryn Grimes had a good look at a shot in the crease, but her attempt was stopped by Kuropatkin, keeping the game scoreless.
Four minutes later, Grimes snuck a 15-yard shot inside the left post, giving the visitors the 1-0 lead. Anna Thomann picked up an assist on the play, sending a high ball into Grimes from the left sideline.
Late in the half, a Chicago foul gave the Yellowjackets a free kick in the final minute. Ferreira stepped up to the ball and launched it on frame, but Chicago keeper Sophie Pilarski was unable to control the ball. Blanch was the first player on scene and slammed in the rebound to tie the score at 1-1, heading into halftime.
As play shifted to the second half, Rochester took the lead after a strong midfield play forced a Maroons turnover.
Alyssa Doody stole the ball in the midfield and passed up to her teammate in Bravo heading toward the UC zone.
Bravo found space in the middle, swung a pass out on the right win to Santangelo who perfectly placed a 10-yard shot into the low left corner of the net. The score was the first-year players' team-leading fifth of the season.
With momentum on its side, Rochester continued to mount pressure offensively, leading to a third straight goal, coming from Blanch in the 75th minute.
On the score, Ferreira cut back against the defender and sent a long cross in from the left sideline. Blanch was there in the middle of the box and perfectly one-timed the ball with the top of her foot into the top-center of the goal for the 3-1 advantage.
After getting behind by two, the Maroons were forced to aggressively move forward, eventually earning six shots, half of which were on goal in the final 15 minutes. Kuropatkin and the Yellowjacket defense were able to withstand the pressure and preserve the key win to start UAA conference play.
Stats in the game were fairly even across the board, with Chicago holding a 15-12 shot lead and 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
Up next on the Yellowjacket slate is the final non-conference game of the year, with Rochester hosting crosstown rival RIT on Tuesday evening at 5 pm in Fauver Stadium.
