They are numbers 2, 3, 12, 13, 21 and 22 in our program, but they are collectively number one in the hearts of the underclassmen on Rochester’s women’s soccer team. Six Yellowjackets will play their last home game this Saturday at Fauver Stadium, proudly representing our university by wearing the blue and gold one last time. Seniors Laura Tobias, Portia Bridges, Pietrina Micoli, Besty Cotton, Kristin Kelly and Karen Forsythe have one more home game to leave everything they have out on the field.
“Our focus versus Case Western [Reserve University] will be to play as well as we can, be excited about the game, and then win it for the seniors,” Head Coach Terry Gurnet said.
The Yellowjackets are on the wrong end of a two-game losing streak against University Athletic Association opponents. The Yellowjackets suffered losses to Washington University and the University of Chicago at home this past weekend, both 1-0 finals.
Washington entered their game against Rochester ranked No. 17 in the current Division III poll, with a record of 13-2, 4-1 in the UAA. The game’s only goal came off a corner kick late in the first half. The ball landed at the foot of Kara Karnes outside the left post, as she drove it inside the right side of the net, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead. Rochester’s best chances of scoring in the second half all came off a corner kick, but they were not able to capitalize. This was the first home loss of the season for the Yellowjackets.
On Halloween, UR suffered another spooky 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chicago. Chicago’s Randi Leppla scored the golden goal for the Maroons, ranked No. 11 in the most recent Adidias Top 25 Poll. Even though Rochester outshot Chicago 10-5, they were not able to cash in on their shot advantage.
Chicago goalkeeper Andrea Przybysz made five saves in net.
With the win, Chicago improved to 13-1-2 overall, 5-0-1 in UAA play. Rochester is now 9-5-3 overall, 2-4-0 in the UAA.
For the second time this year, a Rochester goalie has been a recipient of a conference award. The UAA named freshman goalkeeper Molly Leitch the Defensive Player of the Week, joining junior Adrianne Hulchanski as the other UR goalie who has won the award twice this season after the Yellowjackets posted back-to-back victories over Nazareth College and SUNY Cortland on the road. Leitch made six saves in 90 minutes to earn the victory with a 2-1 triumph over Nazareth, and three days later, made one save in 55 minutes as the Yellowjackets edged Cortland, 2-1, in overtime.
“I think our NCAA playoff opportunity passed this weekend so hopefully we’ll have the chance to compete in the ECACs,” Gurnet said. “Our seniors have done a wonderful job of bringing everyone together and for setting a positive, hardworking tone. They’ll be missed.”
UR and Case Western take the field at 4:30 p.m.
Rovinsky can be reached at mrovinsky@campustimes.org.
