From University of Rochester Athletics
A phenomenal second half surge propelled the University of Rochester men's soccer team past 10th-ranked SUNY Cortland 4-1 on Friday evening at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
The season opener for both teams featured plenty of fireworks, as the teams combined for seven yellow cards and three penalty kicks.
Rochester (1-0) earned all three PK's and converted twice, with the third also leading directly to a goal via the rebound. Nick Swanger, Ashton Prescott and Santi Ponce Ocampo benefitted from the penalties, while Tyler Moran finished off the scoring with a tremendous volley goal from over 20 yards out.
Cortland (0-1) controlled the bulk of play and chances in the opening half, outshooting the Yellowjackets 7-4 over the first 45 minutes. In the 23rd minute, Cortland Riley Williams directed a beautiful header into the low left corner of the net from 10 yards out. Teammate Marco Cottone set up the play with a long pass from midfield.
A few minutes later, Williams nearly doubled the lead when his free kick attempt from just outside the box clanged off the left post.
In the final minute before intermission, Prescott earned UR's first shot on goal, but Cortland keeper Jordan Ott made the save to send the Red Dragons into the locker room up one.
A switch flipped at halftime with Rochester generating plenty of offensive zone chances. The Yellowjackets combined for just five shots, but scored four times over the final 45 minutes to complete the come-from-behind win.
In the 68th minute, EliJose Araujo was taken down in the crease for a penalty kick, allowing Swanger to step up to the spot to try to score the equalizer. His attempt was saved by a diving Ott, but the rebound came right back out to him and he tapped in the game-tying goal.
Five minutes later, Araujo again was taken down near the endline inside the box, leading to another penalty kick for the Yellowjackets. This time, Prescott stepped up and laced a solid shot into the back of the net to give Rochester the 2-1 lead.
A third straight PK for the Yellowjackets was earned when Avi Lamba was drawn down in front on a free kick service. Ponce Ocampo was the next man up for the penalty kick and calmly scored his first of the season, boosting the UR lead to 3-1 with under 14 minutes to play.
As the clock ticked below ten minutes left, Moran completed the scoring with a tremendous one-timer volley goal. A Prescott free kick started the play, but his cross was headed out by a Cortland defender. Moran volleyed his shot from outside the box to the perfect spot in the top left corner of the net.