Women top Brandeis in conference opener

In a hard-fought defensive battle, the Rochester women’s soccer team tied SUNY Oswego 1-1 on Sept. 28. UR took a 1-0 lead after nearly an hour of play. Sophomore Emily Urbanczyk converted the Yellowjackets’ lone goal on a pass from sophomore Anne McMahon. Oswego scored 17 minutes later when Morgan Vrydaghs scored. Junior Adrianne Hulchanski made two saves for Rochester. The Yellowjackets stepped up the pressure in the second half after a scoreless deadlock at halftime. Rochester outshot the Lakers 12-1 in the second 45 minutes and produced six corner kicks to none for the hosts. Rochester improved to 3-1-3.The Yellowjackets opened up their University Athletic Association season in impressive fashion with a 3-1 victory over Brandeis University at Fauver Stadium on Oct. 2. Brandeis, ranked No. 24 in the nation, had previously only surrendered three goals in their first eight games of the season, all wins. The opening half was scoreless, but the Yellowjackets seized the momentum early in the second half. After a Rochester corner kick, sophomore Kate Possee’s header glanced off the crossbar and McMahon collected the rebound. After a scramble along the goal line, McMahon found Urbanczyk planted in front of the net and Urbanczyk headed the cross home to take the 1-0 lead at 49:47. Just over two minutes later, senior Karen Forsythe blasted a 35-yard shot over the head of Brandeis goalkeeper Natasha Pieciak to make it 2-0.Brandeis got one back at 54:55 when Brittany Douglass snuck a long shot from right wing just inside the right goalpost to cut the score to 2-1. McMahon answered back at 66:41 with a breakaway goal to close out the scoring. Rochester outshot Brandeis 18-5. Hulchanski made two saves in net for the Yellowjackets, who improved to 4-1-3 overall and 1-0-0 in the UAA. Pieciak made three saves for the Judges (8-1-0 overall, 0-1-0 UAA).The Yellowjackets will now commence a 7-game road trip beginning on Oct. 7 at SUNY Geneseo. Rochester returns to action at home in Fauver Stadium Oct. 29 when they host the Washington University in St. Louis Bears.In related news, Hulchanski was named the Defensive Player of the Week by the University Athletic Association. She was recognized for her performance during the week of Sept. 13-19 when she shut out two of the nation’s premiere programs. Hulchanski made two saves in Rochester’s 0-0 double overtime tie with 11th-ranked William Smith College on Sept. 15. Three days later, she saved five shots for the shutout as the Yellowjackets tied No. 16 Union College, 0-0, in double overtime. The back-to-back shutouts paid off. Rochester was among “Others Receiving Votes” in the NCAA Division III poll for the week of Sept. 20. Rovinski can be reached at mrovinski@campustimes.org.