ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Lady Lancers overcame a lightning delay and time taken to attend to an injured player to play Syracuse DA to a 1-1 draw in the United Women’s Soccer opener for both teams at Charles A. Schiano Field at Aquinas Institute.

The Thruway rivals endured a 90-minute game that turned into a three hour and 10-minute marathon due to some surprising inclement May weather and an injury to a Syracuse player.

In many ways, the game turned out to be a battle of Rochester captains, former and current.

Taylor Wingerden, who skippered today’s Lady Lancers, tallied an unassisted goal in the third minute.

Midfielder Brooke Barbuto, who captained last year’s team and was the 2018 UWS MVP as well, set up the equalizer by first-half substitute Marissa Greiner, who has played at SUNY-Brockport, in the 81st minute. Barbuto left the Lady Lancers because her soccer-related job is in her hometown of Syracuse.

Syracuse DA, which played in its first UWS match, outshot the host side, 12-9, while accruing 12 corner kicks to Rochester’s one.

Each goalkeeper made four saves.

The Lady Lancers will play their first two road matches of the season at the Connecticut Fusion on Friday, May 24 at 7 p.m. and then at the Worcester Smiles on Saturday, May 25.

The return home to Aquinas to welcome the Long Island Rough Riders on Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.