SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – For the second straight meeting in the regular season, the University of Rochester and Skidmore College needed a shootout to decide a winning, with Rochester emerging with the 2-1 victory on Friday evening at Skidmore's Wagner Park.
 
The decisive goal in the shootout was scored by first-year Amanda Strenk who was the 10th and final shooter of the initial lineup, breaking a 1-1 shootout deadlock after Marissa Folts and Jennifer Lee each found the cage.
 
Strenk took her time, dribbled to the right side and blasted a hard shot through between the legs of Skidmore keeper Elizabeth Coughlin as time was expiring on her attempt.
 
The win by Rochester follows the 1-0 shootout victory by the Yellowjackets last season.  This season's victory is UR's first in Saratoga Springs against the Thoroughbreds since the 1995 season, and only third ever against Skidmore on their home field.
 
Rochester remains unbeaten on the season, moving to 13-0 and 4-0 in the Liberty League.  Skidmore drops to 6-7 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
 
UR's first scoring chance of the evening came just two minutes into the game when Strenk dribbled in from the left side and chipped on shot on net, which was saved by Coughlin.  The rebound caromed over to Nancy Bansbach who attempted to slap in a goal, but Coughlin was there to make a blocker save.
 

Rochester was limited to just two shots the rest of half, both off the stick of Dunham.  Her goal came at 16:01 when after a penalty corner insert from Emma Schlechter, the UR senior dribbled in three yards from the circle, wound up and fired a hard shot which beat Coughlin on the blocker side for a 1-0 Rochester lead.
 
Two minutes later, another PC led to another Dunham shot attempt, but Skidmore's defense was there for the block, breaking up the chance.
 
Skidmore meanwhile was held to just two shots in the opening 35 minutes, one which was on goal and saved by Kate Kujawa.  The Thoroughbreds also earned just one corner in the first half.
 
Play opened up in the second half, with Skidmore getting the bulk of the opportunities.
 
At 56:14, Strenk and Catherine Hauser applied pressure in the Thoroughbred defensive zone, leading to a turnover which ended in an open shot for Strenk along the left side.  Her shot sailed wide in what turned out to be Rochester's best chance for the rest of regulation.
 
Skidmore tied the score in the 60th minute with a goal from Gabby Hyman.  Hyman gained possession outside the UR circle, dribbled between two defenders and struck a hard shot while falling down to the low left side,
 
Less than two minutes later, Hyman nearly put the Thoroughbreds ahead, but her shot in a scramble from five yards hit the post and deflected out to safety.
 
Three minutes into overtime, Rochester's Colleen Maillie had a deflection shot which tested Coughlin's reaction time, with the goalkeeper being up to the test, keeping the game tied 1-1.
 
At 75:17, Hyman had another great chance for the Thoroughbreds, but Kujawa made a sprawling save to her right to keep the ball out of the cage.  Kate Tiffany, who was camped out at the post, thwarted any follow up attempt, clearing the ball out of the circle.
 
In the second overtime, Rochester earned an early penalty corner which led to two great opportunities.  Miranda Lakis had a tip shot and Maillie followed that up with a shot from six yards, but Coughlin again made the saves.
 
Both teams were gassed towards the end of the second overtime, but Courtney Dunham had enough left in her tank to make a great diving tackle with 90 seconds on the clock, breaking up a Thoroughbred 2-on-1 odd-man rush.
 
In the shootout, Folts got Skidmore off to a strong start, scoring on a backhand goal after she initially dribbled into Kujawa's pads.
 
After two misses, one by Bansbach and the other by Hyman, Lee found the cage with UR's second attempt, dragging a shot and flicking the ball just inside the left post to tie the shootout at 1-1.
 
The next five attempts all were saved or missed the net wide, setting up Strenk's game-winner with the final shot.
 
Overall, Rochester held a 14-6 advantage in shots and took eight corners to Skidmore's three in the contest.  Coughlin made eight saves, while Kujawa made three stops in the contest.
 
Rochester returns home for a Sunday matchup against St. Lawrence at Fauver Stadium, with game time set for 3 pm.