Courtesy of UofRAthletics.com
FAUVER STADIUM – The University of Rochester put on a strong defensive performance and earned a clutch goal in a 1-0 victory over 15th –ranked Brandeis University in men’s soccer on Friday night.
The victory boosts Rochester’s record to 8-2-2 overall, 2-1 in the UAA. It is Rochester’s second straight UAA win after losing 4-1 to then top-ranked Chicago two weeks ago. Brandeis is 2-1 in the UAA, 9-3 overall, The Judges saw a four-game winning streak snapped. They came to Fauver Stadium having won eight of their last nine.
Geoffrey Rouin scored the gamewinner for the second straight game in a 1-0 win. Rouin hit the net in the second OT last Sunday when Rochester won at Washington University in St. Louis.
It was a match played at a dizzying pace. The Yellowjackets kept trying to push Rouin through on breakaways and had some success, although he had awful luck finishing. Good shots, well-taken, and they had the crowd ready to roar.
Brandeis excelled in taking the ball away on the dribble. Sam Vinson was a standout on the back line and Dylan Hennessy did a nice job as the left outside back although he was kept very busy countering Rouin’s forays down the right sideline.
Rouin showed he could be dangerous very early in the match. Just over five minutes in, he swept down right wing and hit a wicked rising liner ticketed for the top corner. Brandeis goalkeeper Ben Woodhouse punched it over the bar for a corner which proved harmless.
The game’s only goal came off what amounted to a set piece. Rochester earned a throw-in about 20 yards off the endline on the left. Bryce Ikeda took it and threw it into a packed goalmouth. Rouin was a step inside the crease and headed it into the right side of the net and Woodhouse’s backpedal and lunge left the ball just out of his reach. It was scored in the 22nd minute.
Brandeis got most of its offensive orchestration from Josh Ocel in midfield. The ball found him at midfield numerous times and he would spray balls in both directions trying to find a way through the Rochester defense.
Midway through the second half, UR’s JR Eisold fought to shield Marino Espiga away from the ball as Redd Brown raced off his line to snare a lead pass. Ocel nearly provided an equalizer for the guests with nine minutes left. His throwin to the left post was headed just wide by Alex Walter with Eisold defending.
On Sunday, Rochester plays its final home game of the season – an 11 am start against New York University. Brandeis heads for Atlanta where the Judges will play at Emory at the same time. BR plays its last three UAA matches at home – welcoming Washington, Chicago, and NYU. Rochester is on the road, facing Carnegie Mellon, Case Reserve, and Emory.
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