This past week the women’s soccer team rebounded from last week’s loss to St. Lawrence University by playing to a respectable tie against William Smith College and a convincing win over SUNY Geneseo.
As twilight fell upon the William Smith soccer field Wednesday, the 110-minute double overtime battle came to a close with a scoreless draw. The game was full of momentum changes that divided it into three distinct sub-games.
In the first half, William Smith controlled the tempo. Despite out-shooting the Herons 4-3, UR just was not in sync. “It felt like we were a step off in the first half, we just didn’t dominate play,” senior forward Alison Collins said.
Head Coach Terry Gurnett echoed Collins saying, “The momentum in the first half belonged to William Smith.”
UR came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. “We really picked it up our play in the second half. We had four breakaway opportunities but their keeper just managed to keep it out of the net,” Gurnett said. The Yellowjackets out shot William Smith 9-8 in the second, and dictated the tempo more so than they did in the first.
After 90 minutes of back and forth play, the game went to a 10-minute overtime period. Both teams had scoring opportunities, but neither could convert, forcing a second overtime session. UR outshot William Smith 5-3 in the two overtimes but according to Gurnett, “the momentum was about equal in overtime. No one let up out there, it was a really hard fought, quality college soccer game.”
Sophomore goal keeper Adrianne Hulchanski held down the Yellowjacket net and recorded six saves. “Adrianne did a great job in goal. She was outstanding at getting to the ball,” Gurnett said.
The Yellowjackets had their chances, but in the end had to settle for the draw. “It’s always tough to go down to William Smith and play. We know they are going to have a good team ready to play. We could have won, but it was a great game,” Gurnett said.
Earlier in the week UR took out the previously undefeated Blue Knights of Geneseo 5-0.
Geneseo had beaten William Smith 3-0 earlier in the season, so UR knew that they would have their work cut out for them.
“We were really excited to play Geneseo, we came out ready and we showed it,” Collins said.
Collins started the scoring with a goal – off an assist from freshman forward Emily Urbnczyk – 4:37 into the first half. Less than two minutes later, junior forward Kristin Kelly headed the second goal in off an interrupted corner kick from junior midfielder Karen Forsythe. Forsythe closed out the first half scoring by putting an unassisted outside shot past the Geneseo keeper.
“We really wanted to come out and press Geneseo early,” Gurnett said. “We were able to get on top early on and that killed their momentum.”
Collins added her sixth and seventh goals of the season in the second half to complete her second hat trick of the year. The goals came off of assists from Urbanczyk and senior midfielder Sarah Crimmins respectively.
All 25 players on the Yellowjackets’ roster saw action in the game. Hulchanski picked up one save and was credit with the shutout victory.
“It was a great team win, we had solid all-around contributions,” Gurnett said.
Next up for UR is a skilled Union College squad. Union is currently 4-0 and 12th in the NSCAA/Adidas Division III women’s national poll.
“Union is extremely tough. They have a smaller field and it looks like weather could be a factor in the game,” Gurnett said.
After this week, UR moved to 4-2-1 and are currently 24th in the polls. If the Yellowjackets can muster a win against Union, then they will surely move up in next week’s rankings.
Fitzsimmons can be reached at afitzsimmons@campustimes.org.
