The University of Rochester field hockey team got a goal from senior All-American Michelle Relin and made it stand up in a 1-0 victory over Vassar College in a Liberty League matchup on Monday evening.
 
UR moves to 10-3 on the season and is 2-1 in the Liberty League while Vassar drops to 9-3 overall and is also 2-1 in conference play.
 
The 'Jackets got a great defensive effort in a face paced, back and forth game on both sides.  Tara Lamberti made seven saves in the cage for Rochester, earning her league leading sixth shutout of the season.  Paige Amico made three stops in goal for the Brewers.
 

In a defensive minded first half, the Brewers would generate the only legitimate scoring chance in the 30th minute.  After a UR turnover, Vassar's Megan Caveny picked up the ball, dribbled to the endline on the left side and sent a cross in front, past a diving Lamberti towards teammate Lauren Wiebe who was alone in front of an open net.  The pass was just off target and sailed out of bounds, keeping the score tied heading into halftime.
 
At the break, Vassar held a slim 4-3 edge in shots while both teams took four penalty corners.
 
Rochester's Callie Fisher would fire a hard backhanded shot in the opening two minutes of the second half, giving Vassar goalie Paige Amico her first test, a test which she passed by kicking the blast away.
 
Relin's goal came at 42:04 and was a great individual effort.  She picked up the ball around midfield, dribbled out to the right sideline and outran the entire Vassar defense.  Then after streaking into the circle, she chipped her shot right between Amico's legs for the 1-0 UR lead.
 
Vassar's counter attacked provided a flurry of chances to get the equalizer.  In a three minute span, the Brewers would generate three penalty corners and three shots on goal.  The last of those shots was a point blank opportunity by Hayley Beach, one that was saved away by Lamberti.
 
In the 58th minute, Vassar's Caveny blasted a shot from seven yards out in the center of the circle, a chance that ended up sailing just wide of the UR cage.
 
Six minutes later, Relin unleashed a similar shot, this time from 12 yards out off a Rochester penalty corner, with the same result, sending the ball wide.
 
Rochester's defense clamped down over the final seven minutes, not allowing a shot and only surrendering one penalty corner in the final minute to seal the shutout win.
 
Overall in the contest, Vassar had a 10-9 shot advantage and 10-6 edge in penalty corners.  Relin led all players with seven shots, while Vassar's Bianca Zarrella led the visitors with three shots.
 
Rochester returns to action this Friday in another Liberty League contest when the Yellowjackets travel to Troy, NY to take on RPI.