Knocking off two conference rivals in just over a week says a lot about a team that’s looking to extend its play beyond the regular season.
The women’s soccer team has shown it all – offense and defense – outscoring their opponents 17-2 in their 10 regular season games thus far.
In a four game stretch, three of which included contenders in the University Athletic Association conference, the Yellowjackets surrendered only one goal while beating seven out of their foes.
The period of four games started at home against Brandeis University, the team’s first conference match up of the season. The Yellowjackets struck first midway into the first half when junior Ashley Weagraff one-timed a corner kick pass from senior Kristen Leskow to help give the team the upper hand early.
Being a conference member isn’t something that’s meant to be taken lightly, especially against a team that created just as many scoring opportunities as the Yellowjackets. Brandeis showed its ability to compete when sophomore Lizzie Bremner scored the equalizer halfway into the second half.
UR’s Weagraff answered back several minutes later off a loose ball that wound up in the lower left corner of the net and helped bang out a 2-1 victory against Brandeis.
The Yellowjackets stepped aside from conference play to challenge SUNY Geneseo which mainly served to spruce up UR’s record.
The team came out strong in both halves, scoring a pair. In the first half, sophomore Amy Thompson took advantage of a 30-yard free kick, converting it into what would be the game-winning goal. Later in the first half, Thompson found freshman Kelsey Turley adding assurance to the team’s lead.
UR continued the pressure into the second half starting with junior Mary Walsh who made a penalty kick count as the third score for UR in the game. Junior Angela Heaney delivered the final blow off a pass from freshman Laura Bojko to give the Yellowjackets the win.
UR resumed its conference play taking on the University of Chicago. The match against Chicago turned out to be a struggle and the history between these two teams proves why. The last three times these two teams have played, two have made it to overtime and one even going to double overtime. Yet every meeting, the Yellowjackets always came up short.
This year, the team was able to break the streak with the defense taking a stand. It was through the combined efforts of the goal tenders, senior Adrianne Hulchanski and sophomore Molly Leitch, that the team was able to remain scoreless. Not even double overtime could determine a victor.
After fighting off one of the most challenging foes of the season, the Yellowjackets continued their stretch against conference adversaries by challenging Washington University of St. Louis on the road.
Mary Walsh scored the lone goal for the Yellowjackets with an unassisted 10-yard shot that turned out be the only goal of the entire match.
The win over Washington University put UR’s record to 7-1-2 on the season and also gave the team a 2-0-1 record in the conference standings. The second win boosted the team to the No. 1 spot in the UAA rankings.
The Yellowjackets will take on SUNY Cortland this Sunday at Fauver Stadium.
Serafini can be reached at jserafini@campustime.org.
