Courtesy of UofRAthletics.com
ST. LOUIS – Location, the business cliché says, is everything. To a soccer player, so is opportunity. Both fell into place on Sunday afternoon as Rochester defeated Washington University, 1-0, in double overtime at Francis Field.
Geoffrey Rouin had the goal, his eighth of the year, and Aidan Miller had the assist – a little nodded-on pass with the goalkeeper off the line and scrambling to get back. The goal came at 102:15.
The win boosted Rochester’s overall record to 7-2-2 and evened its UAA mark at 1-1. Washington is 6-3-1 overall, 0-2 in the UAA.
Last year, the teams dueled to a 3-3 deadlock through two overtimes. This one had the look of ending that way – although scoreless instead of six goals – before Rouin and Miller struck.
As the Yellowjackets moved downfield early in the second 10-minute sudden death period, Washington goalkeeper Bryant Hales rushed off his line to try to deflect a bouncing ball neat the top of the area with Miller and Rouin in pursuit. He partially deflected it. Miller managed to pop it into the air, just over him. It fell to Rouin’s foot and as Bryant raced frantically to get back on his line, Rouin shot it just inside the right post. Two Washington defenders were positioned on the line – one in the middle and the other closer to the far post so as not to provide Rouin with a wide target.
It was Rochester’s sixth win in its last eight trips to St. Louis, dating back to 2003. It’s the fifth consecutive time these teams have played overtime and the fourth straight year it went to double overtime.
Washington applied pressure late in the second half. In the last 10 minutes of regulation, UR goalkeeper Redd Brown made one save, the Yellowjacket defense blocked two shots, and the Bars had four corner kicks. Brown had to make one save in the first OT. In the opening minute of that period, UR’s defense blocked a shot by Ryan Sproule.
Brown finished with four saves and the shutout for Rochester. For Washington, Colin McCune spent the first 64:56 in goal with three saves. Hales did not make a save in his 37:19.
Rochester returns to Fauver Stadium on Friday and Sunday. The Yellowjackets will host Brandeis and NYU on those dates. It will be Meliora Weekend.
Leave a Reply