Weekend Roundup: both UR soccer teams start off season 2-0

The first weekend of UR's soccer season is over, and the men's and women's soccer teams could not be happier, as both sit at 2-0 after winning each of their respective Flower City Tournaments.

The women took down Medaille College, 7-0, on Friday and then went on to beat Skidmore College, 2-0, in the Flower City Championship game.

Against Medaille, UR dominated in all facets of the game, as is apparent by the final score. Two-time All-American Ellen Coleman ('14) and newcomer Morgan O'Brien ('15) led UR's offensive attack with two goals each.

Forward Rachel Wesley's performance against Skidmore
(1 goal, 1 assist) prompted the Flower City Tournament
Committee to name her tournament Most Valuable Player.

The Skidmore College Thoroughbreds proved to be a much more difficult challenge for the Lady Jackets in the championship game. Skidmore came out attacking early on and had a number of very good scoring opportunities. But a number of terrific saves by goalie Allison Bernstein ('14) prevented Skidmore from taking the lead in the early going.

After the Thoroughbreds' upheaval of UR's defense, the Jackets turned up their attack and took the lead 1-0 off a beautiful header by midfielder Beth Martins ('12) in the fifth minute. Forward Rachel Wesley ('13) and Coleman both had assists on the play.

Early in the second half, UR sealed the win when Wesley scored on a 22-yard shot from the right wing.

Freshman Morgan O'Brien earns Jackets' Nest Player of the Game honors for scoring two goals in her first ever collegiate soccer game. For her performance in game two of the Flower City Tournament, the Jackets' Nest Player of the Game goes to forward Rachel Wesley ('13). Without her superb play against Skidmore, UR would not have scored either of their goals.

Below are the tournament awards:

1st Place: University of Rochester Yellowjackets
2nd Place: Skidmore College Thoroughbreds
3rd Place: SUNY Geneseo Blue Knights
4th Place: Medaille College Mavericks
Tournament MVP: Rochester F/D Rachel Wesley (Millwood, NY/Millwood)
Offensive Player of the Tournament: Skidmore M Kelsey Yam (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow)
Defensive Player of the Tournament: Rochester D Danielle Crean (Victor, NY/Victor)

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The men's Flower City Classic was not initially set up as an actual tournament- the match-ups between teams were preset prior to the Classic, which contrasts with the women's tournament, where the match-ups were decided based on which team won and lost each first round game.

Therefore, it was known beforehand that the men would be taking on Fredonia following their match-up with #7 Calvin College, regardless of whether or not they won or loss their opening game.


Well, it just so happened that both UR and Fredonia won each of their respective first games (on Thursday, UR beat Calvin 3-1 and Fredonia beat St. John Fisher 1-0) , which ultimately set up a tournament championship when the two teams met on Saturday night for their scheduled game.


The first half saw both teams have a number of scoring opportunities. Each team's goalkeeper (UR Mike Moranz ('14) and Fredonia's Bobby McGinnis), however, was up to the task. 


UR's best scoring opportunity took place just before halftime when forward Max Fan ('14) took a point blank shot just yards from the net. But McGinnis was up to the task, saving Fan's shot on what looked like a sure-fire goal. The first half ended with the score deadlocked at 0-0.


In the 52nd minute, Fredonia finally broke through, scoring a goal off of a mis-hit clearance by a UR defender.


But Fredonia's goal seemed to light an unlit fire for UR's offensive attack. A little more than three minutes after Fredonia's goal, rookie forward Alex Swanger ('15) took the ball into the 18', and was taken down by a Fredonia defender.


UR was awarded a penalty kick, and designated penalty kicker, defender Jakob Seidlitz ('13), scored on the golden opportunity to tie up the game, 1-1.


Then, less than two minutes later, forward Jarvis D'Souza ('15) scored on what truly was an absolutely beautiful kick. D'Souza unloaded a shot a few yards outside the right corner of the 18' that curved from left to right, just inside the lower section of the right post. Defender Doug Clift, who was starting the game in place of injured defender Jake Cargill ('13), had the assist on the goal.

Forward Jarvis D'Souza celebrates what would end up being his game-winning goal.

D'Souza's goal elicited one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen on a soccer field. After scoring his goal, the freshman threw his hands in the air and ran towards his teammates on the bench. 


The UR bench cleared completely after the goal, meeting D'Souza on the field. Under the lights at Fauver Stadium with the night sky as the backdrop was a mini "mosh pit" of white jerseys, celebrating an unbelievable goal by a freshman who was playing in just his second collegiate game.


Despite both teams having a number of scoring opportunities the rest of the game, the score remained the same at the final buzzer, with UR winning 2-1.


For his game-winning and first career collegiate goal, the Jackets' Nest Player of the Game goes to Jarvis D'Souza. D'Souza's goal was a remarkable sight for several reasons: the shot, the excitement it caused for the many fans attending the game, and the celebration of UR players all over the field following the goal.


Below are the tournament awards:


1st Place team: University of Rochester Yellowjackets
MVP: Rochester D Tom Sorrentino
Top Offensive Player: Fredonia F Cory Paine
Top Defensive Player: Rochester D/M Jakob Seidlitz