Freshman Michelle Relin scored two goals and senior Shelby Hall scored the game winner, to lead the University of Rochester field hockey team to a 3-0 win over Union College on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Yellowjackets, who move to 7-0 on the season, now sit at 1-0 in the Liberty League.  The 7-0 mark is the best start for UR in the history of its field hockey program.  Union drops to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
 
In the first ten minutes, UR gained a couple of good scoring chances off of penalty corners.  First, Lindsey Randall unleashed a blast from just inside the circle.  Relin followed that up with a solid rebound opportunity.  Two minutes later, Katie Flaschner fired a shot that was saved by Union keeper Molly McCune.  Right after, Allison Resnick had a great rebound shot that was saved by Union defender Trista Johnson in the goal mouth.
 
Union had its first good scoring chance 11 minutes in when Ali Flake and Darcy Berger fired back to back shots on UR keeper Madison Wagner.  The junior stood tall and made the saves to keep the Dutchwomen off the board.  She finished with five on the day to for her 2nd solo shutout of the season.
 
In the 17th minute, UR looked to make it 1-0, but McCune and the Union defense held strong keeping the Yellowjackets off the board.  Relin had three chances while Belle Hoagland had her shot saved once again by Johnson.
 
Rochester broke through with a score in the 22nd minute when Shelby Hall put in a shot off a scramble in front of the Union net.  After her initial shot was saved by a diving McCune, Sarah Dixon cleaned up the rebound on the left end line and centered a pass to the senior Hall who calmly sent in into the net for her seventh goal of the year.
 
The freshman Relin was finally able to break through towards the end of the first half when she weaved through the defense and fired a shot from 12 yards out that found the back of the net.  That score was her eighth of the season to re-take the team lead from Hall.
 
The second half was played very evenly, with much of the play coming in the midfield.  Both Union and UR were unable to create good scoring opportunities for the first part of the second session.
 
With 12 minutes remaining in the game, Union was able to generate some excellent chances off a penalty corner, but Wagner was able to make two key saves, stopping shots by Laura Pacheco and Caroline Moran.
 
The Rochester defense would hold strong again in the last seven minutes as the Dutchwomen penetrated the circle to attempt to score, but they were unable to create shots on the goal.  UR defenders Kathryn Montgomery, Alexa Freedman and Wagner held Union to only three shots in the second half.
 
With five minutes left in the game, Relin was able to notch her second score of the day when she broke free from the defense and fired a hard shot to the left corner of the net, making the score 3-0 in favor of the home Yellowjackets.  Hall contributed an assist on the play as her long pass hit Relin in stride and allowed her to break free.
 
Rochester finished with a 14-5 edge in shots on goal and a 10-4 advantage in penalty corners.  Union goalie McCune made nine saves while Wagner made five stops.  It is UR's third shutout of the year.
 
Up next for Rochester is a home contest on September 18 against Hartwick.