The passing of Leslie Dawley was on the minds of everyone who came to Cochrane Field yesterday afternoon. A large crowd came to show support for both teams, who were playing less than 24 hours after Tuesday’s game was halted when Leslie collapsed on-field.

Coach Andy Richards said that soccer was only a slight concern for everyone involved, compared to what had happened Tuesday.

“The result is great, but of course that’s not what we’re thinking about right now,” Richards said. “Our hearts and our prayers go out to Leslie’s family, and we are desperately upset for them.” Buffalo’s Coach Jean-A. Tassy conducted his team’s warm-ups away from Cochrane Field, in order to give the Falcons time to mourn.

“The situation was really tough,” Tassy said. “The game is just a game. There are more important things in life than playing the game of soccer.”

A minute of silence was observed before the start of the game, followed by the Buffalo players handing yellow roses to the University’s players.

The Dawley family requested the game be played yesterday as a way to honor Leslie’s memory. Richards said that the University players were hesitant to play until hearing that Leslie’s family wanted them to.

“We talked about the implications of the decision we were about to make,” Richards said. “Once we knew that it was the family’s wishes that we do that, [the decision] became very apparent.”

Julie Trundle, who scored the winning goal for the Falcons on a penalty kick, said that while it was hard to play the game, the team played for Leslie.

“It was difficult with all the emotion and everything,” Trundle said. “We just wanted to go out and play for Leslie, do our best and try our hardest to win. We wanted to do it for her.”

Goalkeeper Erika Flanders, the team’s captain, talked about what kind of a person Leslie was.

“The girl [Leslie] always had a smile on her face,” Flanders said. “She was always laughing, always happy, and she loved it here.”

Flanders said that it is difficult to try to be a leader at a time like this.

“It’s the most difficult thing I have ever had to go through,” Flanders said. “You always hear about it happening to other teams. … Everyone keeps telling me I have to be the backbone of this team, and I’m trying.”

Richards said the emotion of the situation was something he has never encountered as a coach.

“I have never been part of an athletic event that has been so emotional,” Richards said. “I probably never will be again, and I certainly hope not; not with the circumstances that led up to this game.”

The game attracted one of the team’s larger crowds at home this season — many in the stands brought signs of support for the team.

Richards said the amount of support shown by the community has been a big help during this difficult time.

“We knew the student body was going to come down and represent very well,” Richards said. “This University is a wonderful University to be a part of, and I think we have come through today and shown a lot of class from every person who was here.”