Rochester, N.Y. - A late second half goal stood as the decider as the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team dropped a road contest at University of Rochester, Saturday evening. 

The loss is the first for the Golden Knights in 2025, they move to 4-1-2 overall. Clarkson will have the week off, returning to action next Saturday, when they travel to Union College. 

A cleared corner nearly led to the first goal of the game for Clarkson as Cole Mueller sent a ball back in from near midfield as the box was clearing of players. Morgan Burke managed to get a head on the ball and flick it over the defense into the path of Daniel Medina who took a touch with his right foot finding himself inside the right side of the penalty area. The forward attempted to place it past Ben Ziegler in the Yellowjackets goal but the netminder made himself big enough to keep the shot out and the score at zero. 

Both teams continued to battle primarily within the midfield as the half continued, both defenses determined not to give any room for a potential breakthrough. That chance almost fell the way of Rochester in the 38th minute as a ball over the top of the Clarkson backline looked destined to fall into the path of a Yellowjacket attacker for a 1v1 chance with Carter Kladstrup in goal. However, Kladstrup showcased some exceptional decision making, rushing out of his penalty area and meeting the ball with a diving header to clear any potential to break the deadlock. Kladstrup would finish the half with one save while Ziegler would make two, as both teams would produce just two shots apiece through the opening 45. 

The tempo began to pick up as the second half kicked off, both teams continued to build up a sense of urgency with possession of the ball continuing to be a focus of the sides. Johnny Makula came very close for Rochester in the 67th minute, following a break by the hosts. The forward found himself in a 2v1 with a Clarkson defender and opted to go for a shot with his right just outside of the box instead of laying it off for his teammate to his right but the shot crept barely wide of the right post and out of play. Zach Ruthfield provided a chance for the Golden Knights in the 71st minute with a long-range right-footed effort from about 25 yards out that took a sharp bounce in front of Zeigler, nearly catching the keeper off guard, but the graduate student was able to collect the ball and eliminate the danger. 

University of Rochester finally found the opener in the 79th minute off a rebound. The initial shot from the right side of the penalty box was parried away by Kladstrup, but not away from the danger as it fell right into the path of Elijose Araujo, who headed the ball into the open net for 1-0. 

Josh Baraka nearly created another chance for Clarkson with less than 10 minutes remaining as he pounced on a redirected pass and sprinted down the right wing past the Yellowjacket outside back. A heavy touch from Baraka went just a bit too far as Zeigler was able to collect the ball and settle things down for the hosts again as they would hang on for the 1-0 win. 

University of Rochester would hold the advantage in shots (12-7) and corners (6-3), both teams would find the target with five shots on goal. Kladstrup would be credited with four saves in the effort for Clarkson, Zeigler with five for the Yellowjackets. Seven different Golden Knights registered a shot, led by Lars Stephensson with two.