Wash. U. senior Jess Shapiro had a goal and an assist in the Bears’ 3-1 win over Rochester, Saturday afternoon in New York. (Photo courtesy: WashU Athletics)

by DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

The No. 3 Washington University women’s soccer team pushed its season-long unbeaten streak to nine games Saturday morning, thanks to a 3-0 win over Rochester (N.Y.) University in the UAA conference opener for both clubs.

The Bears got a goal and an assist from senior midfielder Jess Shapiro to pace the offense, and a shutout from sophomore goalkeeper Sidney Conner to keep the Lady Yellowjackets off the board.

Shapiro’s goal, her third of the season, came in the 16th minute off a slick pass from teammate Kate Flynn.

Rochester had two excellent chances to tie the game before halftime, but Conner made a pair of brilliant saves to keep Wash. U. in the lead.

The score stayed 1-0 Wash. U. until the game’s 60th minute, when sophomore Tyler Wilson lofted a shot over Rochester goalkeeper Emma Schmecter’s head from about 25 yards out, to score her team-leading fifth goal of the season, after getting open thanks to a couple of quick passes by Shapiro and freshman defender Gaelen Clayton.

The Bears were then able to put the game away in the 76th minute, when junior Sydney Essler notched her first goal of the season, following a long pass that set her up with a breakaway from teammate Gabbie Cesarone.

The victory lifted Wash. U.’s overall record to 8-0-1 and 1-0 in league play, while Rochester fell to 5-3-1 and 0-1.

With midterms set for next week, the Bears won’t play another game until next weekend, when they’ll host Emory in another UAA conference game, next Sunday, October 10. Opening kickoff that day at Francis Olympic Field is scheduled for 11 a.m.