PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester lacrosse team picked up a big early season victory on Friday afternoon, defeating 15th-ranked St. John Fisher University 10-9 in the home opener at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
UR's victory is the first by the Yellowjackets (2-1) over a nationally ranked opponent since the 2003 season when Rochester won over 12th-ranked Ithaca. The Cardinals fall to 0-1 following the loss in their season-opener in 2024.
 
Rochester junior Gracie Giannettino led all players with six goals, matching her career-high. She needed just eight shots overall in the game to score six times, and was a perfect 3-for-3 on free position attempts.
 
Other UR goals were scored by first-years Anna Rogers and Jenna Ufberg, sophomore Kassi Boehl and senior Grace Crochiere. In goal, Ava Saffren made three saves.
 
Rochester's defensive effort was strong, especially against reigning IWLCA All-American Sydney Carpenter who was held to just one goal and three shots. The Yellowjackets combined to cause ten turnovers, led by three from Ufberg and two from Abbey Smith and Erin Esposito.
 

In the draw circle, St. John Fisher led 13-10 overall in the game, but Crochiere led all players, securing seven draws. Alyssa Gorny added three draws and two assists for UR, while Emily Schillinger also dished out two assists in the win.
 
The Yellowjackets opened the scoring with Giannettino connecting from the free position just 1:15 into the first period.
 
After Carpenter scored her lone goal of the game a few minutes later, Giannettino added another from the free position to regain the lead for UR.
 
Emma Biel equalized for the Cardinals with 6:41 left in the first period and the teams would end the quarter tied 2-2.
 
Early in the second, Ufberg got her first career goal off a free position attempt, but the Cardinals quickly answered right back to level the match.
 
Gorny dished to a cutting Rogers in front to once again see the Yellowjackets slip in front, and later found Boehl on a similar play to help Rochester build a 2-goal cushion.
 
The Cardinals rallied to tie the game at 5-5 at intermission, finishing off the opening half with goals from Kaley Griffin and Mary Fiorentino, both from the free position.
 
Rochester's strong start to the third gave the Yellowjackets a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the game.
 
Giannettino scored another free position goal to put UR up 6-5 and followed with two more over the next several minutes to make the UR lead three. Her fourth of the game came with nine minutes left in the period and was a player-up goal, coming off a solid feed from Schillinger. The two repeated the feat again less than three minutes later.
 
Playing a player down in the closing minute of the period, Cara Landry scored for the Cardinals to stop the UR scoring spree.
 
In the fourth, Rochester was able to respond quickly to two Cardinal goals, maintaining its lead down the stretch to eventually secure the win.
 
St. John Fisher recorded the opening draw of the fourth and turned it into a goal by Ellie Leisen, trimming the Rochester lead to just one, but Giannettino kept her scoring streak going, answering on the next UR possession with her sixth of the night for a 9-7 advantage.
 
Kaley Griffin scored for the Cardinals to once again cut the deficit to one, but UR's Crochiere responded again, finding the twine less than a minute later for a 10-8 lead.
 
With 2:41 to go, Fiorentino scored her second of the game to again make the Rochester lead one, but the Yellowjackets held on.
 
Crochiere secured a big draw control after the final goal, and after a shot sailed high and gave the Cardinals possession, a strong check by Gorny on a clear attempt quickly resulted in a Cardinals turnover allowing the Yellowjackets to wind down the clock.
 
UR is now off until its spring break trip starts at the end of next week. Rochester's next game is Saturday March 9 against Stevenson University at 1 pm.