The women?s lacrosse team faced tough competition this past weekend against playing nationally ranked William Smith College and Hamilton College.
UR played hard in both games, but fell short of defeating either team.
Hamilton
The Yellowjackets had a tough loss at Hamilton, losing with a score of 10-5.
Scoring for the team was junior Lauren Mele with two goals and one assist. Juniors Erika Bergstrom, captain Jenny Rogers and junior Sarah Hansinger each picked up a goal.
The following day the Yellowjackets faced No. 7 William Smith in a tough battle.Junior Jessica Ler-man scored for UR with two goals, and junior Erika Bergstrom scored one goal and picked up an assist.
Rogers, sophomore Del-phine Robotham and freshman Melanie Branski scored one goal a piece.
The team refocused and came back from the losses to play an exciting game Wednesday evening against their in-city rival, Nazareth College.
The score was close throughout the game with key goals from Rogers and great saves by senior captain and goalie Arna Berke-Schlessel in the second half. At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 6-6 as UR and Nazareth headed into sudden-death overtime.
Berke-Schlessel made key saves to keep the team in the game.With the first overtime period almost over, from Rogers to finish the game with a score of 7-6.
Scoring for the Yellowjackets in the winning effort was Rogers with four goals and one assist, including the overtime winner, Lerman with two goals and freshman Samantha Krawitzky scored her first career goal.
The Yellowjackets play at home Friday and Saturday in two games which could be the last home games of the season for the team.
Senior farewell
This year, the team graduates three talented seniors ? Berke-Schlessel and strong defensive players Ticia Manning and Stacey Printup.
Each player has left a lasting mark on UR women?s lacrosse.
?[Berke-Schlessel] has shown tremendous improvement especially during the last two years, and she has been a very solid contributor to the team, both on and off the field,? coach Andrea Golden said.
?She has developed into a strong goalie over her four years here at UR and has been a great role-model for freshman goalie Stephanie Bristol.?
Manning was a two-sport athlete at UR, dividing her time between basketball and lacrosse.
?Manning is a fun, emotional on-the-field player and she has learned to channel her energy to contribute very positively to the women?s lacrosse program,? Golden said.
Manning overcame an ACL injury during her early Rochester years, and has become a key player on the field.
Printup has shown tremendous improvement in her ability to play defense over her period of time playing with the Yellowjackets.
?She understands the spirit of lacrosse and carries the deeper traditions of the sport throughout her life experience,? Golden said.
?No matter the circumstance, she comes to practice and games ready to play when and wherever she can,? Rogers said.
?The unique thing is that none of these individuals started as freshmen with the program, and they have helped establish a solid foundation by continually improving and working on their individual and team game,? Golden said.
Friday, April 27 at 4 p.m., the team takes on Union College at Fauver Stadium, and Saturday, April 28 at noon, the team will play Skidmore College at Fauver Stadium.
The team is looking to qualify for the New York state tournament, and improve its seeding for the Eastern Conference Athletic Conference championship.
