ITHACA, NY – The University of Rochester women's soccer team used a late goal from senior Claire Grover to draw even with host Ithaca College 1-1 on Friday afternoon at Carp Wood Field.
 
Grover notched her fourth goal of the season, and 42nd of her college career in the 87th minute to help push Rochester's record to 6-1-2 on the season. The Yellowjackets entered the contest ranked #16 in the latest Division III women's soccer poll.
 
Both goals in the contest were scored in the season half, as Ithaca (5-0-3) tallied first at the 57-minute mark by Katelyn Fernandez.
 
In the early going, Rochester's Natalie Santangelo recorded the first shot in the game, with her strike in the fourth minute sailing wide.
 
Two minutes later, Ithaca's Ally Stanton had a shot from inside the box, but her attempt did not get on frame, sending the ball back to UR on a goal kick.
 
Later in the half, the Bombers had three chances in a two-minute span, but shots from Ava Detorie, Fernandez and Sarah Sinnott were either wide or blocked away by the UR defense.
 
The first save of the game for either side came when Grace Hickey stopped a shot from Claire Baim in the 35th minute following a Yellowjacket corner kick.
 
As the teams approached halftime, Rochester keeper Grace Kuropatkin denied Sinnott a few minutes later, sending the teams to the locker rooms scoreless.
 
Seven minutes into the second half, Alyssa Doody had a shot on frame, but Hickey made the save.
 
The momentum shifted in favor of the Bombers and a corner kick in the 57th minute led to the Ithaca goal. Detorie's cross on the corner found Rosie Bostian in the box who settled and found Fernandez in tight for the shot. Fernandez's shot found the bottom corner of the net, giving the Bombers the 1-0 lead.
 
Later on, Kuropatkin made a terrific stop on Bostain breakaway in the 72nd minute, keeping Rochester within striking range.
 
UR turned the tables in the later stages of the second half, controlling most of the possession in its attacking third. Grover had shots blocked and saved in the 77th and 80th minutes. Sydney Holmes fired a shot that sailed wide a minute later.
 
The 'Jackets continued to pressure, with Hickey saving three more chances from Grover, Remi Cherkas and Santangelo.
 
UR finally broke through in the 87th minute when Grover connected on a one-timer to the bottom corner of the net following a cross from Doody.
 
Ithaca earned a late corner kick with under two minutes to play, but the 'Jacket defense fought off the play without allowing a shot, eventually earning the draw.
 
Ithaca held a slim 13-12 advantage in shots for the game, while also taking five of the six corners in the contest. Kuropatkin made four saves for Rochester, while Ithaca's Hickey made six.
 
Rochester is now off for a week and returns to play the University of Chicago at home on October 5th, kicking off University Athletic Association conference play.