In Review
BACK-TO-BACK: Ranked No. 1 throughout the 1987 season, the women鈥檚 soccer team defended its 1986 national title in 1987, allowing only five goals in 18 games. Founded in 1978, the program was the first in Rochester history to win an NCAA Division III national championship. (Photo: Athletics and Recreation)Mind over Weather
Strategy isn鈥檛 reserved solely for the locker room or the playing field. At the 1986 women鈥檚 soccer Final Four in Cortland, New York, as the Yellowjackets were preparing to play their semifinal opponent, the University of California, San Diego, both teams were dining at the same restaurant鈥攁t different times鈥攂efore the game.
Yellowjacket coach Terry Gurnett had an idea of how to get into the heads of the Tritons, new to late fall weather in upstate New York:
鈥淚 knew we鈥檇 run into them, so I instructed each member of our team not to wear any coats to the dinner. It was about 20 degrees out, and I knew the SD team would be bundled up tight. The SD players looked at us like we were crazy. Their coach saw us鈥擩ohn Leaney, a true coach, gentleman, and a friend to this day鈥攁nd he said, 鈥榊ou bastard. I know exactly what you鈥檙e doing鈥攈ope you get frostbite!鈥 We had a great laugh but had drawn first blood.鈥
When the game was over, the Yellowjackets had two goals and a place in the 1986 championship game. 鈥擠ennis O鈥橠onnell
As Rochester students, they came together 30 years ago with a simple goal: become a team in the truest sense of the word. They succeeded dramatically, winning the first two NCAA Division III national championships in women鈥檚 soccer鈥攊n 1986 and repeating in 1987.
Members of those Yellowjacket teams gathered on campus last fall to relive the memories and to catch up with each other.
鈥淭he memories are of the relationships we had, the fun we had, working hard together, and playing hard together,鈥 says Mary Martha Winter McKenna 鈥90. 鈥淲e had some big personalities on the team, but humble at the same time.鈥
Maura McGinnity 鈥87 says it didn鈥檛 seem like 30 years had passed. 鈥淓veryone immediately and naturally connected, just like we did so many years ago,鈥 she says. 鈥淲e had a fabulous weekend catching up, laughing, and enjoying quality time together.鈥
Terry Gurnett 鈥77, the program鈥檚 founding coach, organized the reunion. Stepping down after the 2010 season鈥攈is 34th鈥攁s one of the winningest coaches in women鈥檚 college soccer, Gurnett is now an associate director for athletics advancement. If there鈥檚 any one person responsible for the success of the national championship teams, it鈥檚 Gurnett, players say.
鈥淲ith his energy and drive, he molded 26 different personalities into a team of one,鈥 says Maria Budihas Jensen 鈥87. 鈥淗e showed wisdom, humor, and heart as he coached us.鈥
The team鈥檚 philosophy on the field echoed Gurnett鈥檚 coaching and teaching style. He knew when to push and when a break was needed. Darlene Elia Buenzow 鈥88 tells of team conditioning runs through Mount Hope Cemetery. Gurnett would lead off, run back to the last group, then finish with the first group. 鈥淏y pushing himself to be his best, it inspired us to be the best players we could possibly be,鈥 she says.
SOCCER CELEBRATION: Members of the 1986 and 1987 national championship women鈥檚 soccer teams were recognized during a celebration last fall: (front row, kneeling) Charlotte Tweedie Byers, Cindi Baker Wight, Jill Keller, Jody Morrow Moore, Cathy McQuiggen, and Liz Breyton Warmerdam; (middle row, crouching) Jill McCabe; (back row, standing) Maria Budihas Jensen, Maura McGinnity, Doreen Byers Falkowski, Jill Decker, Lisa Caracillo Anderson, Diane Perna Dacey, Jo Ann Johnston Allender, Darlene Elia Buenzow, Martha Winter McKenna, Abby Heister Steele, Kelly Gorman Rakowski, Cherise Galasso, and Annie Gaisser Holmok. (Photo: Athletics and Recreation)Kelly Gorman Rakowski 鈥90 says there was an 鈥渆lement of fun and balance to the workouts.鈥 鈥淲e never took soccer too seriously鈥攁cademics, campus life, and other priorities mattered,鈥 she says.
That would be a tough sell to the opponents in 1986 and 1987. On the field, the Yellowjackets defended expertly, attacking from the back to keep pressure on opponents. 鈥淭here were 11 of us on defense, really 12,鈥 says McKenna, 鈥渂ecause of [goalkeepers] Doreen [Byers] and JoAnn [Johnston] sharing equal time every game. We were constantly threatening teams out of the back field and catching them man-down.鈥
Rochester had nine wins and two ties in the first 11 games in 1986. That included a 1鈥1 result at Cornell. 鈥淲e realized that we might have something special,鈥 Gurnett says. Two days later, Rochester lost at St. Lawrence, 4鈥0.
Gurnett calls the loss 鈥渟obering and instructive.鈥 McGinnity thinks it was a positive. 鈥淭hat loss reminded us that you cannot take anything for granted. Success takes constant effort, teamwork, and a disciplined focus on a bigger purpose.鈥
Two wins followed, then a Senior Day loss to Rutgers. In the first round of the playoffs, Rochester won at Smith College in Massachusetts, putting the Yellowjackets into the Final Four against the University of California, San Diego.
The game was at Cortland State in New York鈥檚 Finger Lakes region, about two hours from Rochester. 鈥淲e woke up and there was snow on the ground,鈥 Buenzow says. 鈥淲e knew San Diego didn鈥檛 stand a chance against us tough Northerners.鈥
A 2鈥0 win put Rochester into the final against Plymouth State. The winning goal came from a pass by McGinnity to freshman Lisa Caraccilo 鈥90 for a 1鈥0 victory.
The tough defense of 1986 was stronger a year later鈥攐nly five goals allowed in 18 games. Carrying a No. 1 ranking throughout the 1987 season, the Yellowjackets again advanced to the Final Four, winning the title over William Smith College, 1鈥0, at Fauver Stadium. 鈥淣ot many teams in sports actually accomplish or fulfill their expectations,鈥 Buenzow says. 鈥淲e did.鈥
Sometimes, it does seem like yesterday. 鈥淚 can still feel the sense of joy when Abby Heister headed in the goal,鈥 Rakowski says of the 1987 final. 鈥淚 knew that would be it.鈥
Gurnett puts it in perspective differently. 鈥淲e made the effort to get 鈥榞ood folks鈥 on the team,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing what you can accomplish with the proper mix of character, talent, and grit.鈥
鈥淭erry recruited good people who came together with many a personality, but all seemed to click both on and off the field,鈥 says McKenna. 鈥淲e still do.鈥
Dennis O鈥橠onnell is director of communications for the Department of Athletics and Recreation
Rochester Review
January鈥揊ebruary 2017
Vol. 79, No. 3
Story as a PDF