A team’s success is measured not only by what the players do on the field, but also how they prepare for it.
According to coach Terry Gurnett, his team’s 3-0 start this season has a lot to do with his players’ good work ethic during the offseason.
“Players have worked extremely hard to come back fit,” Gurnett said. “They’ve worked hard to understand defense. The credit goes to how hard players worked this summer. Individually, [sophomore] Ashley Vanvechten and [junior] Stephanie Klenotich have displayed great leadership along with [sophomore] Amy Thompson, [freshman] Kelsey Turley, [sophomore] Sam Hetchkop and [junior] Jen Peacock.”
So far the women’s soccer team has shown it all – both defense and offense. They started their season by bringing home the 2005 Flower City Tournament title and used that momentum to over St. John Fisher College this past weekend.
The Yellowjackets entered Growney Stadium at St. John Fisher allowing a total of three shots on sophomore goal tender Molly Leitch. They continued with their stretch of superb defense, limiting St. John Fisher offense to six shots, one of them a goal.
While the defense showed its teeth to the Fisher offense, the Yellowjacket offense showed off its golden toe, firing 22 shots and scoring a pair of goals in both halves.
Thompson knocked on the door early in the game, netting a pass from sophomore Laura Morrison. Several minutes later, junior Emily Urbancyzk puts her team up by two when she cradled a pass from junior Mary Walsh.
St. John Fisher retaliated later in the half with an unassisted goal, but that was all the noise Fisher would make the entire game.
UR padded its lead in the second half to three goals. Morrison notched the third goal of the game off a pass from Urbanczyk.
Walsh closed out the game with a ringing shot from freshman Laura Bojko.
Walsh, a two year veteran, has experienced every position on her team. As a freshman, she filled a spot on the defensive squad. She moved up to midfield her sophomore year to experience more scoring opportunities, and this year she has had a greater chance by occupying a spot at forward position.
Her coach, who played an important role in her transition, decided on the move based on her skills.
“[Her] transformation to forward has been remarkable,” Gurnett said. “She started as a defender as a freshman. Her energy and desire, coupled with her athletic ability allowed us to move her up front. So far she’s worked extremely hard.”
Overall, the game against St. John Fisher proved the Yellowjackets belong in sixth place in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III rankings.
The Yellowjackets are members of an elite conference. According to coach Gurnett, they not only compete in a challenging conference, but also one of the most difficult regions in the country.
The team has several hills to climb over this season, but their coach has every bit of confidence in his player’s ability. The Yellowjackets will take on the Union College Dutchwomen this weekend.
Serafini can be reached at jserafini@campustimes.org.
