The Yellowjackets almost swept their matches this week, starting off last Wednesday with a 1-0 shutout against the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College. The victory marked the team’s fourth consecutive road game.
However, the team couldn’t complete the sweep when they hit the road on Saturday to take on the Pioneers of Utica College. The Pioneers dealt the Yellowjackets a 5-1 loss to bring their record to 3-3 overall. The team currently has no record for Liberty League play, but they will get their first shot this Friday against Vassar College.
Wednesday’s game at Golden Flyer Stadium was statistically dominated by the Yellowjackets as the offense outshot Nazareth 12-2 and the defense kept the home team scoreless. Junior Revay Wilson scored UR’s only goal, an unassisted shot at 27:51.
For the Golden Flyers, the only real opportunity to net one came much later in the game, but goalkeeper and sophomore Rachel Cahan thwarted their chance with a diving save.
Cahan, who saved 40 of 45 shots on goal throughout last week’s plays, was awarded both Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week and Eastern College Athletic Conference Upstate New York Defensive Player of the Week.
“Rachel has been playing great,” Head Coach Michelle Andre said. “As a defense we are giving her the opportunity to make clean saves and that has helped her tremendously.”
Cahan blocked 24 shots in about 120 minutes of play against Nazareth and Utica. She was aided against the Pioneers in the goal by sophomore Robin Levy, who stopped three shots in the second half.
“Reflecting upon Saturday’s game, we were all very disappointed,” captain and junior Heidi Davies disclosed.
The Pioneers out-shot the Yellowjackets 24-9 holding them scoreless for the first 60 minutes of the game as Utica netted five straight goals. Wilson, unassisted, scored with less than nine minutes remaining to kill the shutout.
“We had a very strong 25 minutes of the first half, but then we started to break down,” Davies said.
Levy also believed that they could not repeat phenomenal play in the second half, saying, “I think we started out the game stronger than we had in any other game this season and we were generally dominating in the circle, but we’re having trouble turning opportunities into goals.”
With four days before Friday’s game against Vassar College, the team is focusing on offensive drills in practice and is looking forward to playing in Fauver Stadium.
“We are so excited to finally be home again, and I know that we are going to do really well,” Davies said.
The Brewers of Vassar College are 3-4 and also have not played a Liberty League game yet this season. On Saturday, the Yellowjackets will follow Friday’s home game with another in Fauver Stadium. This one is against the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Red Hawks. RPI is currently 3-1 overall. Both games will be played at 4 p.m.
Anderson can be reached at janderson@campustimes.org.
