POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Down 1-0 at halftime, Rochester erupted for three goals in the first eight minutes of the second half and defeated Vassar, 3-1, in field hockey on Friday afternoon.

The victory clinches a spot in the Liberty League playoffs for Rochester. With one league game left on the schedule (Saturday at RPI), Rochester is 4-1. William Smith is 5-0. RPI and Skidmore are both 3-2. Union (1-4 with one left), St. Lawrence (1-4 with one left) and Vassar (0-4 with two left) have been eliminated from the race.

Vassar took a 1-0 lead at 22:59 when Cameron Felt lined a shot from just inside the circle to the back left corner. The Brewers led, 1-0, at the break.

Rochester turned up the offensive pressure immediately after the restart. The Yellowjackets were awarded a penalty stroke less than a minute into the period. Michelle Relin's try at  the equalizer was turned aside by Vassar goaltender Maggie Brells.

Ninety seconds later, the Yellowjackets broke through. Relin fed a pass from the top of the circle to Shelby Hall who tipped it over Brells at 37:37 to tie the score. It was Hall's 16th goal of the season.

Hall put Rochester ahead for good less than three minutes later. She shot to the left side of the goal from inside the circle at 40:16. Katie Flaschner scored an unassisted goal (her fifth overall) at 43:02. She hit a ground level shot to follow up a rebound after a save.

Rochester held a 30-8 advantage in shots, 18-5 in shots on goal. The Yellowjackets had 11 penalty corners. Vassar had two. Madison Wagner made four saves for Rochester. Brells had 13 saves for the Brewers. Catherine Fiore and Rachel Waldman of Vassar each made a defensive save.

Rochester is 13-3 overall, 4-1 in the Liberty League. The 13 wins tie the single-season record for victories. It was first set by the 2006 team coached by Michelle Andre and tied last season by Wendy Andreatta. Vassar is 7-6 overall, 0-4 in the Liberty League.