In an all time series that is decidedly one sided, the #16 ranked University of Rochester field hockey team turned the tables on #4 ranked William Smith College, earning a key 3-1 Liberty League victory on Friday evening.
 
The win was just Rochester's second over the Herons in the last 30 games between the schools, the other coming in 2009 also at UR's Fauver Stadium.  William Smith holds a 34-6-1 edge in the all-time series.
 
Rochester moves to 4-0 in the Liberty League (11-2 overall) for the first time ever while previously unbeaten William Smith suffers its first loss on the season (10-1, 3-1 Liberty League).

Rochester's victory exacts some revenge from last year when the Herons defeated the Yellowjackets twice, once coming the the Liberty League championship game.
 
Freshman Callie Fisher was able to strike early for the Yellowjackets, scoring just 55 seconds into the contest when she scooped in a loose ball in front past Heron goalkeeper Amy Feda.
 
Sophomore Michelle Relin had a golden opportunity to double the lead at 8:21 when she broke in alone on Feda, but the William Smith goalkeeper kicked the ball away with a nice point blank save.
 
The Herons mounted the pressure right after Relin's chance, earning multiple penalty corners and shots on net in the next couple minutes.  William Smith's best chance in the attack was a back post tip shot from Julia Simmons that just trickled wide.
 
Rochester would then double the lead with 14 minutes remaining in the half when junior Gina Cunningham settled a hard shot from Lindsey Randall right in front of the Heron goal.  She was then able to push her shot just to the left of Feda for a 2-0 Yellowjacket lead.
 
The Herons would then get on the board with just over seven minutes left in the half.  It was William Smith's Alessandra Patrizio who tipped in a shot from the point from teammate Margaret McConnell, cutting the UR lead to 2-1.
 
William Smith would apply the pressure late looking for the equalizer, emerging from the first period with a 13-7 edge in shots and 10-2 advantage in corners.
 
Early in the second half, Rochester applied pressure offensively, looking to increase its lead earning five penalty corners in the first seven minutes of the period.  But UR was unable to capitalize, even when the Herons were whistled for leaving the line early and were forced to play one corner chance a man short.
 
Rochester finally was able to break through at 43:23 when Relin was able to get free in the center of the circle and fire a hard eight yard shot past Feda for a 3-1 lead.
 
Freshman Sayaka Abe made a great play on defense four minutes later for Rochester clearing Cydney Conley's shot off the line after it just trickled past UR keeper Tara Lamberti, keeping momentum on UR's side.
 
UR's Lamberti was then able to make a diving save, preserving the two goal lead with 7:30 remaining in the game, stopping a hard blast off a penalty corner from William Smith's McConnell.  The sophomore was forced to make four big saves in a four minute span to keep the Yellowjacket lead at two.
 
After a Rochester timeout with five minutes remaining, the defense held strong and controlled the game, not allowing the #4 ranked Herons a shot the rest of the game.
 
Starting keeper Madison Wagner and Lamberti each made five saves in the Rochester cage with Wagner picking up the win.  The Herons' Feda played 67:53 in goal and made eight saves.  William Smith pulled her for an extra attacker with two minutes to play, but were unable to generate any scoring chances with the man advantage.
 
Relin's three point performance on the day moves her into sixth all-time at Rochester in scoring with 82 career points in just 38 games played.  She also moves into a tie for sixth in career goals with 33.
 
The Yellowjackets next take to the field when they travel to Brockport on Tuesday at 6 pm.  UR's next conference game is in two weeks when they travel to #13 ranked Skidmore before finishing the Liberty League schedule on Octobert 26th at St. Lawrence.