Courtesy of UofRAthletics.com
FAUVER STADIUM – The top-ranked University of Chicago used a fast start to get past the University of Rochester 4-1 to open the University Athletic Association soccer season on Saturday afternoon.
The Maroons (10-0-0, 1-0-0 UAA) scored twice in the opening ten minutes, and had four goals at halftime to continue a 29-match regular season unbeaten streak. Chicago’s last regular season loss came on November 1st, 2015. The loss drops Rochester to 6-2-2 on the season and 0-1-0 in the conference.
Chicago got things started with a fortunate goal in the 9th minute, when Matthew Koh chipped a high ball into a gust of wind from nearly 30 yards out, which sailed the ball into the perfect spot at the top of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Under a minute later, the Maroons doubled the lead, earning a corner kick where Andre Abedian was unmarked in the box for a hard header goal into the right side of the net. Koh picked up the assist on the play.
Rochester’s first solid chance of the day came at the 11:20 mark when UR was fouled five yards outside of the box. Christian Baltier took the free kick, looking for a sliding teammate in Lasha Alkhazishvili at the far post, but the pass was a bit too far in front of the 6-2 Yellowjacket defender.
In the 18th minute, Chicago made it 3-0 when Koh converted a penalty kick. UC earned the PK when Dayo Adeosun was taken down with a foul in the penalty area.
Two minutes later, Alkhazishvili had another solid chance for the Yellowjackets, when a loose free kick pinballed around in the box and found his foot, but his shot attempt at the top right post when high and wide.
Chicago’s Max Lopez picked up his team leading 12th goal of the season at 27:51 when he ripped a hard shot from the edge of the box along the left wing to make it 4-0 in favor of the visitors. Abedian picked up an assist on the play.
The Yellowjackets stepped up their offensive pressure in the second half and were able get on the board seven minutes in when Alex Di Perna sent a low cross into the crease from the right side, allowing for a tap-in goal from teammate Aidan Miller who scored his second goal of the year.
With under 13 minutes on the clock, UR looked for another score similar to its only goal of the contest, with Di Perna sending a cross, this time to the far post, looking for Milan Fatschel whose sliding shot attempt went wide.
Overall in the second half, Rochester was able to hang even with the Maroons, drawing even in shot attempts at 4-4 and corners at 1-1. For the contest, Chicago held a 13-5 shot advantage and 8-1 edge in corners.
In goal, UR’s Redd Brown made six saves while Chicago keeper Hill Bonin had one stop.
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