TROY, NY – Senior Olivia Denny scored a tap in goal off a penalty corner with just over five minutes to play to lift the #17 University of Rochester field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday evening at Harkness Field.
 
The Yellowjackets remain perfect in Liberty League play with the win, moving to 8-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference.  RPI meanwhile, drops to 1-10 on the year and 0-3 in the Liberty League.
 
Rochester's Courtney Dunham had the first good scoring chance of the contest at the 3:38 mark, blasting a hard shot off a penalty corner that sailed wide of the Engineer cage.
 
A backhand shot from sophomore Maya Haigis then opened the scoring in the 20th minute.  Classmate Colleen Maillie dribbled 40 yards up the right sideline, sent a cross to Haigis in the circle who struck a hard backhand into the net for a 1-0 Yellowjacket lead.  It was Haigis' second goal of the season.
 
At 22:05, Maillie nearly netted a goal of her own off a corner, but her shot from the top of the circle was swiped away by RPI defender Mac Reininger.
 

The Engineers then tied the game up on their first shot of the contest at 24:17. Taylor Clink blasted a hard shot off a penalty corner from Megan Jones to the left side of the cage, beating UR starting keeper Kiran Sundaram and tying the score at 1-1.
 
Five minutes later, RPI had another opportunity when Sundaram stepped on the ball in the circle, slipped and allowed an open net, but RPI's Charisse Stakutis couldn't get her two shots around the downed UR keeper for the go-ahead goal.
 
After halftime, the Yellowjackets had an excellent chance in the 49th minute from Claire Dickerson.  Maillie started the play with a long hit in, Dickerson dribbled in close on the left side of the net, but keeper Rachel Kaufman made a tremendous diving save to deny UR's leading scorer and keep the game tied.
 
Rochester had two more scoring threats in the 61st minute when Maillie and Dunham had shots off a PC, one which was stopped by Kaufman and the other which was a defensive save by Lauren Hiltz.'
 
UR was able to break through for a go-ahead goal at 64:44 when PC inserter Denny found Maillie at the top of the circle.  Maillie's shot was perfectly placed on the stick of Denny who was left all alone at the left post for a tap-in goal for the win.
 
Over the final five minutes, the Engineers stepped up the pressure though, with Mikaela DiBello recording a shot from six yards out in the center of the circle, only to see it saved away by relief goalie Gabrielle Cantley.  The ensuing PC saw an RPI shot get deflected high and wide.
 
RPI earned a final penalty corner as time was expiring, but Jones' shot at the near post, similar to UR's second goal was sent wide of the cage.
 
Overall, Kaufman played well for RPI in goal, making nine saves in the loss.  Both Cantley and Sundaram made one stop each for the Yellowjackets.
 
Rochester is back in action on Tuesday evening with a home non-conference matchup against Houghton.