ROCHESTER, N.Y. (September 5, 2015) – The 20th-ranked University of Rochester men's soccer team scored 7:51 into overtime to earn a 2-1 victory over Rutgers University-Newark Saturday afternoon in the opening match of the Flower City Classic at Fauver Stadium.
The Scarlet Raiders drop to 1-2-0 on the young season, while UR moves to 1-1-0. Rutgers-Newark will look to even its record against SUNY Cortland Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
R-N controlled the stat sheet, especially in the first half, ending the opening period with an 8-0 edge in shots and a 4-2 margin in corners. The Scarlet Raiders finished the match with a 13-5 advantage in shots, putting five on goal compared to four for the hosts, also ending the contest with a 6-4 edge in corners.
After being held without a single shot attempt in the first, Rochester was able to break a scoreless tie in the 55th minute when Ben Swanger headed in his first goal of the season on a corner.
Rutgers-Newark quickly responded, nearly scoring on a header from sophomore
Isaiah Kuris when he hit the crossbar, and pulling even when sophomore forward
Chigozie Atubi scored his third of the season thanks to an assist from Kuris.
R-N nearly tallied after a corner from freshman
Damjan Agaj in the 66th minute, but the two teams would go into overtime tied at one.
In the OT, Rochester picked up the game-winner when Samuel Cekala found Michael Cross for a header off a throw in.
"We lost concentration on two set pieces and were punished for it which is unfortunate because it was the only time they were near our goal," head coach
Kevin East said. "I thought the guys put in a great effort today, and it's definitely something we can build on."
Senior goalkeeper
Matt Broomall made a pair of saves in defeat for the Scarlet Raiders, while Redd Brown and Marshal Davidson combined to make four for UR.
Sunday's matchup with the Cortland Red Dragons will pit the Raiders against the team that ended their 2014 season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Cortland was able to win that match 2-1.
