The UR women’s soccer team couldn’t have done any better this past weekend at the Fredonia Days Inn Soccer Tournament. Windy conditions and a chance of rain could not stop the ‘Jackets as they added their first two wins of the season and outscored their opponents 10-1 in only two games.
The team’s first game on Saturday resulted in a 5-1 victory against the Penn State Behrend College Lions. On Sunday, UR faced off against the Grove City College Wolverines, who were coming off of a loss to host SUNY Fredonia. The ‘Jackets beat the Wolverines quite handedly, with a final score of 5-0.
In their first match of the tournament against the Lions, the ‘Jackets started the scoring off early with a goal in the first six minutes from senior midfielder Sara Goico. The goal was scored off an assist from teammate senior midfielder Laura Bojko. The second goal for UR came only nine minutes later with an unassisted goal from sophomore forward Bridgette Varin. Sophomore midfielder Kristen Ross scored brought the score to 3-0 when she scored an unassisted goal at 29:42.
The Lions tried to come back, scoring a goal late in the half, but UR responded by scoring a goal with only two seconds left in the half. The goal was a result of a penalty against the Lions and was scored by junior forward Emma Moran. The final score at the half was 4-1.
The ‘Jackets finished the game strong in the second half; they held the Lions to no goals and Goico notched her second goal of the day to bring the final score to 5-1.
The UR defense also played a huge part in the game, allowing only four shots to be taken on goalies junior Celeste Hornbach and sophomore Shannon Alderfer. Hornbach only had to make one save in her time on the field. UR dominated every aspect of the match they outshot the Lions 25-4 and had a 5-2 edge in corners.
Coming off their win, the ‘Jackets finished up the tournament by doing the same thing they had done the day before great defense and lots of scoring. But unlike the first game, UR did not put a goal past the Wolverines until late into the first half. The goal came after 10 shots by UR at 43:31 by junior midfielder Mae Butler. Butler’s goal came off of a pass from the 20-yard line from junior midfielder Lindsay Rood.
The goal from Butler got the scoring started for the ‘Jackets, who scored goal number two 56 seconds into the second half thanks to a strong shot from Bojko.
The assist was awarded to freshman forward Ellen Coleman. The next two goals were scored a little over three minutes apart, with the first coming unassisted from junior forward Erin Carballo. The second was the result of a pass from Varin to Coleman to make the score 4-1.
The last goal of the game came with only a few minutes left when Ross dribbled into the box and scored unassisted.
Alderfer, who played all 90 minutes, recorded the shutout and, thanks to another great show by the defense, was not even required to make a save. UR again outshot their opponents, this time 26-2, and allowed the Wolverines only one corner kick while taking nine of its own.
Goico was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and was also named to the tournament’s All-Tournament Team. Other UR players on the team included Coleman, Bojko and Rood. The two wins over the weekend bring the team’s record to 2-1-1.
Prior to the tournament, the ‘Jackets played matches against Messiah College and Gettysburg College. Against Messiah who, according to d3kicks.com poll, is ranked No. 2 in the nation UR scored the first goal, but then gave up five straight en route to a 1-5 loss. Two days later versus Gettysburg, Bojko scored the Yellowjackets’ lone goal in a 1-1 tie.
The team’s next game will be this Sunday against the Union College Dutchwomen, who are currently 3-0.
Belonga is a member of the class of 2010.
