For four undergraduate years, St. John Fisher College’s women’s soccer head coach Jill McCabe piloted the UR women’s soccer team, lettering for four-straight years and leading the team to two NCAA Division III titles. She also earned All-American First-Team status as a senior. After graduating, McCabe took a job as an assistant coach for the Yellowjackets for 11 years and helped the team make nine NCAA appearances. During all of these years, McCabe played and coached under current UR head coach Terry Gurnett.
On Saturday, the two were reunited under very different circumstances. UR played St. John Fisher in Fauver Stadium, pitting mentor and mentee against each other in a crosstown match-up.
UR came out powerful, as it often has this season, inevitably winning, 5-0. The women took control of the game early and didn’t let go.
At 8:16, freshman forward Ellen Coleman scored off of a great cross from senior midfielder Laura Bojko to put the ‘Jackets on track for their stinging victory.
Another great play came just four minutes later. Sophomore midfielder Bridgette Varin played the ball to senior midfielder Sarah Goico from the top of the box, 15 yards out.
Goico chipped it close to the goal, in perfect position for junior midfielder Mae Butler to head it into the left side of the net, just out of the reach of Cardinal’s goalie Ashley Martin.
Freshman forward Jessica Smith scored twice in less than two minutes to propel the ‘Jackets to a 3-0 lead. For the rest of the game, UR worked together to stay on top, logging another Fauver shutout. Junior midfielder Brittany Hubber put in the final goal of the game at 58:01.
The play was perfectly timed. Smith came down the middle of the field and passed out to the right, perfect for Huber to float a 25-yarder right over the hands of Martin and just under the crossbar.
The teamwork from UR was again inspiring the teammates worked together without a glitch to prove that they had come out to win and were not going to accept anything less.
Bojko, Goico, Varin, Butler and Smith all had assists to help make the five UR goals possible. The ‘Jackets outshot the Cardinals, 24-5, and logged 11 corner kicks. The offense was constantly pushing toward the goal, and the defense constantly cleared balls out, squashing any Cardinal offense.
The UR defense really pulled its part. Junior goalie Celeste Hornbach played the first half in goal and faced only three shots, which she grabbed without hesitation. Sophomore Shannon Alderfer played the second half in goal, but no opponent attempted a goal, so she was not required to make any saves.
UR is ranked No. 16 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas Division III poll with an impressive record of 6-1-2.
St. John Fisher fell to 2-7 with the loss.
Rogers is a member of the class of 2012.
