ONEONTA, NY – Sophomore Alyssa Gorny notched a career-high six goals and the University of Rochester lacrosse team combined for a strong defensive effort in the second half, leading to a 13-7 victory over SUNY Oneonta in the 2024 season opener at Red Dragon Field.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-0) allowed just two goals in the second half and combined to outshoot the host Red Dragons (0-1) 34-21 in the victory.
 
Gorny finished with a game-high seven points, adding an assist to her goal total to kickstart her second season with the Yellowjackets. Teammate Gracie Giannettino added four goals and an a assist, while Emily Schillinger notched two goals and two assists. Lorelei King finished off UR's scoring with one goal and one assist.
 
Defensively, Ava Saffren played all 60 minutes in goal and stopped nine Oneonta shots. Grace Crochiere was all over the midfield and finished with seven ground balls, one shy of her career-high. She added two of Rochester's ten caused turnovers on the day.
 
In the first, Rochester won the opening draw and immediately threatened to score. After a couple good looks, the 'Jackets were turned away by a pair of saves from keeper Courtney Gallagher.
 
The UR defense forced a couple of turnovers on the Red Dragons next two possessions and followed by scoring the opening goal in transition when King found Schillinger for her first Rochester tally.
 
Oneonta answered right away with a goal on its next possession, but Rochester built up a three-goal cushion over the over the next eight minutes. Giannettino scored off a pass from Schillinger, before the two reversed roles on the next goal.
 
With 3:39 left in the quarter, an unassisted Giannettino goal put Rochester in front 4-1.
 
Late in the first, Oneonta scored two goals over the final sixty seconds to cut the deficit to one after the opening 15 minutes. A pair of Yellowjacket cards gave the Red Dragons the advantage and Marissa Evans and Margaret Byrne each found the back of the net to move the score to 4-3 UR.
 
It was a dominant start to the second quarter for the Yellowjackets, aided by some strong work in the draw circle from Anna Rogers. The UR first-year controlled a game-high five draws in her first collegiate game.
 
Two straight goals from Gorny opening the second quarter scoring, with the sophomore assisting on Rochester's third tally in the period, a score from Giannettino. King found the twine with a shot and the Yellowjackets were up 8-3 after five minutes into the second.
 
Oneonta's Lauren Mancini scored another woman-up goal to stop the 'Jacket run, and added another three minutes later to trim the lead back to three.
 
Gorny notched her third goal of the quarter, this time from the free position, with two minutes remaining before intermission, moving the score to 9-5 in favor of the Yellowjackets.
 
A strong offensive possession by Rochester started the second half, leading to multiple second chance opportunities, with Giannettino eventually notching another goal to extend the lead.
 
With time winding down in the period, Gorny had a great individual effort in the midfield to steal control and lead a fast break chance for Rochester. The sophomore earned a free position attempt in transition and converted for the Yellowjackets, putting Rochester in front by six.
 
The third quarter proved to be a low-scoring affair, as the teams combined for only four tallies, three by the visiting 'Jackets.
 
Rochester was content to play a defensive-minded fourth quarter with the multi-goal lead. Neither team generated much offense in the period, as both were held to game-low shot totals.
 
Each team scored once in the fourth, Gorny for Rochester and Evans for Oneonta.
 
The Red Dragons were led by Mancini who scored four of her teams seven goals. Evans notched two goals and Byrne finished with one. Gallagher made 14 saves between the pipes for Oneonta.
 
Rochester is back in action this weekend against another SUNYAC team, playing at SUNY Brockport on Sunday at noon.