From University of Rochester Athletics
Alex DiPerna scored with a little more than an hour to play and the defense made it stand up as Rochester opens its 2016 men's soccer season with a 1-0 victory over Kean University.
The Yellowjackets will play Keuka College on Sunday at 2:30 pm. Kean will take on St. John Fisher College at 12 pm. In the first game on Friday, Keuka defeated St. John Fisher, 4-1.
Patrick Conway, making his first career start, made one save to get the shutout win for the Yellowjackets. Brad Watkins made four saves for the Cougars. Defender Tim Dutchak also made a save for Kean and that came at a vital time.
Three minutes into the match, Rochester's Jeff Greblick fired from inside the box with Watkins off the line. Dutchak was there to deflect the shot away. Rochester had another chance to get on the board five minutes later. Geoffrey Rouin broke down left wing and dribbled along the endline. He crossed the ball on the line and Watkins was late to get down on it. The ball got past him but neither Rochester player in close could get a foot on it to touch it home.
Kean's Mateo Castro took the ball away from Rochester's Zach Lawlor with just over 13 minutes left. Cristo dribbled 35 yards up the middle of the pitch with teammates on each flank before the Yellowjacket defense took the ball away from him.
Just two minutes into the second half, Kean made its first serious bid to break the 0-0 deadlock. Sev Kherlopian unleashed a 25-yarder from left wing. Conway caught it, bobbled it, then dove on it to cover up just before opponents could swarm the box.
Rochester broke through at 59:05. The Yellowjackets were awarded a free kick on the right sideline. Tanner Chester took it. He drove the ball towards the back post with blue shirts waiting. Kean's defense deflected the ball as it arrived in the box. The ball came to DiPerna deep on the left doorstep and he headed it just inside the post.
With less than 20 minutes left, Kean had a chance for an equalizer. Dutchak took a shot from right wing that first appeared to be harmless, but it deflected off a Rochester defender, then smacked into the juncture of the crossbar and the right post before it was cleared.