Buzzing is an understatement for the Yellowjackets nowadays, coming off two dominating wins in a four day span. The UR women’s soccer team posted two resounding victories against the Union College Dutchwomen and local rival Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers. The 11th-ranked Yellowjackets swept the week, outscoring their opponents 5-1 over their last two games to improve to 5-0-1 and are tied for the lead in the University Athletic Association with New York University and University of Chicago.
The Dutchwomen were sent home last Saturday afternoon as the Yellowjackets crushed Union College in a 3-1 victory at Fauver. Even though they had their shutout streak ended at more than 450 minutes, the Yellowjackets came out with a vengeance, putting the game away early. After two straight games without anyone hitting the back of the net against the Dutchwomen, including a shootout win last year in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Yellowjackets wasted no time putting on the sting when senior midfielder Mary Walsh rebounded a shot into an open net from one yard out, five minutes into the game. Less than 20 minutes later, senior forward Emily Urbanczyk beat the keeper on a great shot that put Rochester up 2-0 going into the break.
The Yellowjackets came out of the break with no intention of letting the game get away. Senior forward Anne McMahon hit a rebound from the top of the box to the upper right of the net off a corner kick to seal the deal at 54:01. Although the Yellowjackets lost their bid for the shutout after Union forward Danielle Pomarole hit a shot off a long run into the right side of the net off an assist from midfielder Rebecca Skudder, it was too little too late. The game was already decided when the Dutchwomen finally got on the board.
The Yellowjackets dominated on the offensive side of the ball, going plus-six in shots on goal, forcing Union keeper Kaitlin Graham to make five saves on eight shots. Junior keeper Molly Leitch played the entire game and saved one of the two shots she faced.
“We just came off of a very emotional win over Union, and you could see it in the first half,” coach Terry Gurnett said after the Yellowjackets’ 2-0 victory over RIT. Rochester seemed stifled early, going scoreless in the first half.
But the Yellowjackets came out swinging in the second. Rochester took the lead about 10 minutes into the second half off of a free kick by Urbanczyk and sealed the deal when junior midfielder Laura Morrison hit a beauty over the RIT keeper’s head.
The Yellowjackets seemed to be toying with the Tigers in the second half, as evidenced by the fact that RIT had zero shots on goal in the second half, prompting Coach Gurnett’s response.
“These guys [RIT] are a good team and they always play us tough so I’m really proud of how we responded in the second half,” he said.
The Yellowjackets head to Alfred University next, as they continue their tour of the Empire 8. Following Tuesday’s victory, the UR Women’s soccer team is 5-0-1 heading into their game with Alfred on Monday.
Wang can be reached at bwang@campustimes.org.
