The University of Rochester field hockey team earned its seventh straight victory on Wednesday evening, defeating SUNY Oneonta 3-0 at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
Rochester moves to 14-3 with the win, which was a key regional victory over Oneonta who falls to 13-4.  In the latest NCAA regional rankings released on Wednesday, UR was second in the North Atlantic region while the Red Dragons were fifth.  In the most recent NFHCA coaches poll, Rochester had moved up to #16 in Division III.
 
The Yellowjackets scored all three of their goals in the second half of a well played game from both sides.
 
Colleen Maillie scored what proved to be the game-winner for Rochester in the 50th minute, taking a hard shot from the top the circle off a penalty corner which was deflected into the top half of the net.  Senior Olivia Denny picked up an assist on the play.
 
The next two UR goals were scored less than a minute apart.  Junior Nancy Bansbach slipped a low, skidding shot from the right wing between the legs of Oneonta keeper Danell Jones for a 2-0 lead at 63:17, with Jennifer Lee earning the assist.
 

51 seconds later, senior Claire Dickerson notched her 20th goal of the season when she took a shot from the left wing that snuck inside the near post.
 
Oneonta had its chances in the contest, but the Yellowjacket defense and goalkeeper Kiran Sundaram held strong, earning its fifth straight shutout on home turf.
 
In the 21st minute, the Red Dragons' Sierra Palmatier and Carissa Warren had back-to-back chances off Oneonta's first PC of the match, but Sundaram was there to make two blocker saves.
 
At 33:20 of the first half, Cali Cortese had an open net at the right post, but her attempt to tip a pass from teammate Natalie Longo ended up just wide of the cage.
 
Sundaram again made another strong save in the closing seconds of the first half, as Palmatier's hard backhand shot from eight yards out straight on was stopped, sending the teams into halftime scoreless.
 
Early in the second period, Rochester nearly got on the board at 37:38 when Jessica Brandon tipped a Courtney Dunham penalty corner shot on goal, but Red Dragon defender Nicole Johnston hugged the post and cleared the ball away for a defensive save.
 
In the 60th minute, with the score 1-0 UR, Oneonta's Allyson Wells embarked on a long run up the right side and into the circle, eventually sending a cross towards teammate Alise Anson who had an open net to shoot at, but the pass led Anson a bit too far and sailed out of bounds.
 
Overall in the game, Rochester led 13-9 in shots and 10-9 in penalty corners.  Sundaram finished with seven saves while Jones made three stops for Onoenta.
 
Rochester closes out the regular season this Saturday at SUNY Geneseo in an 11 am game.  UR will then host the first round of the Liberty League tournament next Wednesday at 7 pm against William Smith College.