Box Score It what was likely the final contest at Piper Stadium in 2014, the Big Red made it a Senior Day to remember with an impressive 2-1 victory over 15th ranked Rochester.
Rochester came out of the gates strong, forcing a corner and two strong shot attempts in the opening minute of play. Denison quickly adjusted to the Yellow Jackets' team speed and began to take control of the match offensively.
In the 21st minute of play, Emily Marlatt fired a shot that was saved by Rochester goalie Tara Lambert. The ball went off Lambert's pads and Abby Martone was there to score the game's first goal off the rebound.
Just seconds after Martone's goal, Tori Rapillo came close to giving the Big Red a two-goal lead, but her shot was saved by Lambert.
With 1:35 to play in the first half DU would strike again as Chloe Dikeou crossed a pass to Martone who was waiting at the right corner of the cage. Martone one-timed the pass past Lambert for her second goal of the day and her seventh goal of the season.
Denison went into the halftime intermission leading Rochester 9-4 in shot attempts despite being out-cornered 4-1.
In the second half the Big Red continued its stout defensive play through the first 25 minutes of play. In the 65th minute, Rochester's set-piece ability shined through when Tiffany White inserted a penalty corner pass to Callie Fisher who chipped the ball into the air and over the head of the Denison goalie for the Yellow Jackets' first goal.
That tally woke up nationally ranked Rochester and the final five minutes of play were as suspenseful as a Grisham novel for Big Red fans. In the 66th minute, another penalty corner was awarded to Rochester and this time Megan Keil had a great look that went off the left post of the cage. Rochester would get another corner attempt and this time Keil's shot was blocked and cleared out of the circle by the Denison defense.
The Big Red managed to advance the ball into their half and would run out the clock over the final two minutes of play to lock up the win.
Martone scored both goals for Denison and finished with four shots, tying Marlatt for the team lead in shot attempts. Audrey Miller-Foreman finished with three saves while her counterpart, Lamberti, posted seven saves.
Denison outshot Rochester 18-10 but the Jackets edged the Big Red in corners, 9-8. The Big Red improves to 11-6 while Rochester drops to 13-4. Denison will close out the regular season on Saturday (Nov. 1) at Oberlin.
