In the past three years, the UR women’s soccer team has gone 3-0 against conference opponent Case Western Reserve University, including shutouts in 2004 and 2005 and an eight to one advantage in scoring in the last three games against Case. This year, the team continued to display its dominance by shutting out the Spartans 3-0 in UR’s regular season finale. Overall this season, the Yellowjackets went a combined 14-1-3 and 5-1-1 in the University Athletic Association, finishing in second place.
In UR’s final home game, the team appeared to have one objective in mind: build momentum for the playoffs. In the first half, although the ‘Jackets were unable to get on the scoreboard, they maintained a solid 10 to 1 advantage in shots. It was only a matter of time until UR broke out – and the team did just that. In just under two minutes into the second half (1:40), junior Laura Morrison launched a 24-yard free kick to the back corner and senior Emily Urbanczyk sent it into the net, making the score 1-0. Urbanczyk has six goals on the season and all six have been game clinching goals. From that point on, the ‘Jackets did not look back. At 75:43, Rochester received a corner kick and – in a rare event in soccer – sophomore Laura Bojko scored off of the corner to improve the score to 2-0. Less than two minutes later (75:43), Bojko placed a corner kick directly in front of the net and senior Stephanie Klenotich sent it in to make the score 3-0, and that was the final score. Ultimately, Rochester finished with an impressive 23 to 4 shot advantage and did not allow even a single shot on goal. Case Western’s goalie made nine saves; Rochester’s defense was so effective that junior Molly Leitch never had any save opportunities.
UR finished second in its conference, and the team compiled many impressive achievements throughout the season. Among Division III schools, Rochester is ranked 19th in won-lost-tied percentage, 10th in shutout percentage, eighth in goals-against average and has an overall team ranking of 7th in the country. The ‘Jackets must rely on these strengths as the team heads to the NCAA Tournament. They will host first and second round games and square off against College Misericordia at Fauver Stadium at 11 a.m.
Nathan is a member of the class of 2010.
