University of Rochester

In Review

Senior quarterback Dean Kennedy ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more to lead Rochester to a 38–13 homecoming victory over Alfred State at Fauver Stadium during Meliora Weekend.

It was Rochester’s 200th win at Fauver since the stadium was dedicated in October 1930, and it almost didn’t take place at all. The Yellowjackets’ original opponent for the game, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, was forced to drop out when this fall’s government shutdown meant that the Mariners wouldn’t be able to travel to Rochester.

Alfred State, a provisional Division III member of the NCAA, agreed to replace the Merchant Marine Academy just a few days before the October 12 game.

Kennedy threw touchdown passes of 80 yards to sophomore Derek Wager and five yards to senior Thomas Hayes in the first quarter. He ran for a 15-yard TD in the second quarter and ran 41 yards to score in the third quarter. The Yellowjackets improved to 3–2 after homecoming and were 4–2 overall with three games remaining in 2013. Their record in the Liberty League was 2–1.

Kennedy is the first Rochester quarterback in eight years to rush for more than 100 yards. Aaron Molisani ’08 ran for 103 yards on Oct. 8, 2005, in a 32–9 victory over the Merchant Marine on Long Island.

The other homecoming touchdowns came on a three-yard run by freshman Myles Allen and a four-yard run by freshman Shane Saucier.

In other highlights from the fall:

Men’s soccer: The team had a 10–2–1 record going into the last week of October. The Yellowjackets were 3–1 in the UAA and ranked No. 18 nationally. Rochester defeated No. 12 Brandeis, 3–2, on the road in mid-October and then beat Washington, 2–1, in overtime in St. Louis when Alex Swanger ’15 scored 52 seconds into sudden death.

Women’s soccer: Riding the goal scoring of Jessica Smith ’14 and steady play in goal from Allison Bernstein ’14 and Aubrey Jaicks ’15, the team was 5–5–3 with a week left in October. Smith scored 10 goals—four game winners—and topped the UAA scoring chart. Bernstein had a 1.66 goals-against average and one shutout in eight appearances. Jaicks had a 1.00 mark in six matches and had three shutouts.

Field hockey: The Yellowjackets rose as high as No. 14 in the Division III poll heading into key Liberty League matches at Skidmore and St. Lawrence. Rochester was 13–2, 4–0 in the league. That included a 3–1 win over William Smith on Meliora Weekend. Six players had 14 or more points in an upscale offense that scored 62 goals through 15 matches. Michelle Relin ’16 led with 14 goals and eight assists for 32 points. Lindsey Randall ’15 had seven goals and nine assists for 23 points. Goaltending was shared between Madison Wagner ’14 (1.39 GAA) and Tara Lamberti ’15 (1.23 GAA).

Men’s and women’s cross country: Both teams were ranked in the Division III polls on a weekly basis. In the last meet before the state championships, the men finished fourth out of 34 schools at the Oberlin College Inter-Regional Rumble. Adam Pacheck ’14 was first for Rochester. The women finished eighth of 31 teams, led by Catherine Knox ’16 who was 20th overall.

Volleyball: Headed into the New York Regional Challenge at RIT in late October with an 8–22 overall mark (0–7 UAA), Rochester had two prime wins during the year: beating 23rd-ranked Salisbury University, 3–2, in mid-September, then shutting down RIT, 3–0, a week later. Savannah Benton ’14 and Jennie Ford ’16 were the top two in kills per game.

Rowing: One of the prime results from the fall was a sixth place finish by the women’s rowing team at the Head of the Charles Regatta, one of the most widely respected fall regattas. The Yellowjackets went into the event as a lottery team, which meant that they didn’t have an automatic starting position, and wound up starting in 24th place.

Golf: The team will have the opportunity to host the Liberty League championships in April after winning the league’s fall meet. The Yellowjackets won the meet by 12 strokes over RPI. Nick Palladino ’14 was the medalist with a 10-under 134. Will Mallia ’14 and Matt van Niekerk ’17 finished in the top eight.

Men’s tennis: The Yellowjackets were 3–0 in the fall, dominated the St. Lawrence Fall Classic, and had two players reach the Round of 16 at the ITA regional championships—Josh Jachuck ’16 and Julian Danko ’15.

Women’s tennis: The team won its only dual meet of the year. Christine Ho ’16 reached the quarterfinals of the ITA doubles championship and the consolation final of singles. Two players reached the singles quarterfinals at the New York state championships.

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Dennis O’Donnell is director of athletic communications for the Department of Athletics and Recreation.