The 14th-ranked University of Rochester field hockey team got just enough offense and played some solid defense in a 1-0 victory over the University of Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon at Fauver Stadium.
 
Senior Claire Dickerson scored the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute, slipping a ball from straight on six yards out past UMW keeper Jessica Cavolt on the low left side for the game-winner.
 
It was Dickerson's third goal in the opening two games as she scored twice in Rochester's season opening victory over Nazareth on Friday.  Nancy Bansbach picked up an assist on the play, chipping her pass through the Eagle defense, into the circle where Dickerson was waiting.
 
The victory moves Rochester to 2-0 on the young season while Mary Washington drops to 0-1 after its 2017 opener.  In goal for the Eagles, Cavolt made four saves, while Rochester's Kiran Sundaram did not have to make a save in picking up her second straight shutout.
 
UR's defense was strong all game long, holding the Eagles to just four shots, all of which were either blocked or were sent wide.  Junior Miranda Lakis and sophomore Colleen Maillie had exceptional games in the midfield for the Yellowjackets, maintaining possession in the midfield and providing a strong back check.
 

Rochester was able to generate the first scoring chance of the contest, earning a penalty corner in the opening 90 seconds.  Olivia Denny would take a shot after getting the ball back after her initial pass, only to see her attempt at the left post blocked away.
 
Four minutes later, Mary Washington's Lauren Hopkins had her shot off a penalty corner blocked, with the ensuing scramble swept away by the 'Jacket defense.
 
In the final minute of the first half, UR sophomore Maya Haigis had two back-to-back shot attempts off a penalty corner, with one getting saved by Cavolt while the other was blocked by the defense.
 
Mary Washington's Jackie Smith kept the score 0-0 in the 38th minute with a nice play on the goal line, sweeping a Denny shot off the line for a defensive save.  On the next penalty corner less than a minute later, Haigis took another hard shot that was blocked, but found the stick of Emma Schlechter whose attempt was then saved.
 
After Dickerson's tally gave Rochester the 1-0 lead at 51:06, Mary Washington's final chance of the game came in at 55:58 when Hopkins had a screened attempt in the circle slide just wide of the cage.
 
Rochester's defense stood tall the remainder of the game, despite the Eagles earning three penalty corners and recording two of their four shots over the final 15 minutes.
 
The Yellowjackets will next travel to Baltimore, Maryland next weekend for two more games.  On Saturday UR plays at Johns Hopkins University, before tangling with St. Mary's of Maryland (at JHU) on Sunday.