In a matchup of the number one scoring offense and one of the top defenses in NCAA Division III, the defense won out as the University of Rochester defeated Skidmore College 2-0 in a key Liberty League field hockey matchup on Friday afternoon at Fauver Stadium.
 
The Yellowjackets (12-4, 3-2 Liberty League) got second half goals from junior Callie Fisher and sophomore Claire Dickerson and held the high powered Skidmore offense to just three shots in the victory.  The Thoroughbreds, ranked #8 in the latest NFHCA poll, snap a six-game winning streak and fall to 11-4 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
 
In the early going, Rochester maintained solid possession in the Skidmore zone, earning three shots on goal and one penalty corner in the opening seven minutes.  Two shots, both by senior captain Michelle Relin, were backhanded from in close to the cage, but were saved away by Thoroughbred keeper Zoe McGuire.
 

Skidmore's Leigh FitzGerald had a shot blocked at 9:26 and then teammate Gabby Hyman slid a ball just wide of the far post eight minutes later for the teams' only two shots of the opening period.
 
With 8:53 remaining in the first half, Relin had a penalty corner shot slip through the traffic in the circle and past McGuire, only to see SC defender Jenn Hanks there to make the defensive save and keep the game scoreless.
 
At the break, UR had a 10-2 shot edge and took six of the nine penalty corners.
 
Both Yellowjacket goals came in the opening eight minutes of the second period.
 
After two great chances in the 40th minute were saved by McGuire, Rochester's Fisher opened the scoring a minute later when she scooped in a rebound to the left side of the cage.  UR senior Mimi Adar sent a shot from the right wing towards the goal, but McGuire saved it away to the far side where Fisher corralled the ball and gave UR a 1-0 lead.
 
Less than two minutes went by and Rochester had boosted the lead to 2-0 on a scrappy goal by Dickerson.  Freshman Miranda Lakis gained possession in the middle of the field and dribbled just outside the circle.  She then sent a pass into the middle of the circle where Dickerson, McGuire and a host of Thoroughbred defenders were waiting for it.  Dickerson won the battle, slipping the ball past McGuire and into the net, doubling the Rochester advantage.
 
The Yellowjacket defense kept the pressure on Skidmore, only surrendering one shot in the second half, a chance by senior Dani DeGregory that was blocked after a Thoroughbred penalty corner in the 63rd minute.
 
Overall, UR goalkeeper Tara Lamberti did not have to make a save in the shutout win while McGuire made 11 stops for Skidmore.
 
In the national stats rankings, Rochester has the 7th best scoring defense and 3rd best save percentage while Skidmore ranks 1st in scoring average, scoring margin, points and goals per game.  This season, the Yellowjackets were a perfect 9-0, recorded seven shutouts and outscored opponents 30-2 on home turf at Fauver Stadium.
 
In its last four games prior to Friday, visiting Skidmore had outscored its opponents 32-3.
 
Both teams return to action on Sunday to complete the Liberty League regular season slate with UR traveling to St. Lawrence while Skidmore returns home and plays host to William Smith.