Rochester, 20th in Coaches' Poll, Blanks Alfred, 2-0
PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester celebrated its women's soccer national ranking with a 2-0 victory over a tenacious Alfred University team on Wednesday evening at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
In the current Division III poll issued by the United Soccer Coaches, Rochester is ranked number three in the East and number 20 nationally. UR is 6-1. Alfred is 4-2-2 overall. The Saxons had a five-match unbeaten streak snapped. In those five games (3 wins, 2 ties), Alfred conceded only two goals. The third goal-against came in a 1-0 loss to D'Youville on August 31.
Rochester scored very late in the first half – scant seconds before the halftime whistle. Guiliana Vasile sped down the left touchline. She crossed the ball into the middle of the penalty area. Liv Penegor collected the pass, sidestepped a defender, and lined a shot into the low right corner.
It was a tremendous lift for the home team. Rochester broke through several times, but Alfred goalkeeper Hannah Fuller was up to the task each time. She made three saves in the first half and five more in the second half.
With 20 minutes left before halftime, Madison Drenowatz and Jamison Seabury ran a 2-on-1 into the area. Seabury pushed it over to Drenowatz as Fuller charged. The shot rolled just past the post. With 12 minutes left in the first period, Rochester earned a corner kick. Cesca Shepherd played it over the defense to the far post with several white shirts waiting. Alfred's Allyson Cohen got to it first and headed it clear.
Robin deJong sent Shepherd on a breakaway but Fuller reacted quickly, smothering the ball just inside the area.
With a one goal lead, UR came out with full pressure in the second half. The ball found deJong often, bursting in. Ten minutes into the second half, she came through on the left touchline and shot for the far post. Fuller was able to parry it with Seabury lurking and waiting to post.
Drenowatz scored her eighth goal of the season in the 73rd minute. Emily Henry came through on the right and laid a short pass onto the foot of Drenowatz deep in the box. She settled it and fired for the left corner as Fuller dove. The ball struck the left post and caromed into the low right corner for the 2-0 final.
Emma Schechter made two saves for Rochester. She helped keep it at zero with a quick reaction shortly before the Drenowatz goal. Alfred's Emily Wright curled free on the right and fired – half shot/half cross with Quinn Fowler running unmarked down the middle. Schechter dove on the cross and it shortly became 2-0.
