June 27, 2021
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Former Rochester Lady Lancers captain Brooke Barbuto recorded the game-winning goal and two assists as Syracuse DA registered a 4-1 United Women's Soccer win over her one-time teammates at Charles A. Schiano Sr. Field at Aquinas Institute on Sunday afternoon.
It was the Lady Lancers' (0-9-0, 0 points) final home match of the season.
Jessica Donald finished with two goals for Syracuse (3-2-2, 11) which moved into fifth place in the East Conference.
Barbuto, who earned UWS Mos Valuable Player honors with the Lancers in 2018, helped to lift the visitors in the 13th minute. She sent in a right-wing cross to Donald, who beat goalkeeper Saundra Baron from close range for her first goal.
After defender Megan Hanna fouled Donald in the box, Barbuto had an opportunity to double the lead in the 29th minute, but she skied her penalty kick over the net.
Two minutes into first-half stoppage time, the Lancers equalized on a Claire Myers' penalty kick after team all-time leading goal-scorer Taylor Wingerden was taken down in the area by Caroline Kopp. On the ensuing PK, Myers powered a right-footed shot into the upper left corner. Goalkeeper Katie Cappeletti made contact with the ball, but she knocked it off the post and into the net.
It was Myers' third goal of the season and second penalty-kick conversion.
Barbuto snapped the deadlock in the 59th minute as she beat two defenders on the right flank and drilled a 15-yard line drive into the upper near post for a 2-1 Syracuse lead.
The-34-year-old Barbuto turned playmaker in the 69th minute, setting up Donald's second goal. The Syracuse native found some place and slipped a pass to Donald, who put the ball into the net for a 3-1 advantage.
Blue Ellis closed out the scoring from 10 yards a minute into second half added time.
Baron made a vital stop on Anna Hartzheim's 30-yard blast in the 44th minute and two attempts from Barbuto, one from distance, the other from 12 yards.
Due to the heat, the match needed four hydration breaks, two in each half. Game-time temperature was measured at 91 degrees with the artificial turf field reportedly close to 120 degrees.
After taking a week off, the Lady Lancers will play their final match of the season at FC Buffalo at Robert Rich Stadium on July 10 at 4 p.m.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Lancers men took on Syracuse FC in a National Premier Soccer League contest at 5 p.m.