POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – It took a fellow top-10 ranked team to finally knock the Rochester field hockey team from the ranks of the unbeatens, as Vassar College upended UR 3-2 on Friday evening in Liberty League action at Vassar's Weinberg Field.
 
The victory, Vassar's 11th in a row, clinches the regular season title for the Brewers (13-1, 6-0 Liberty League).  Rochester meanwhile, falls to 14-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference.  The Yellowjackets will be the #2 seed in the conference tournament at the end of the month.
 
Visiting Rochester nearly struck twice in the opening six minutes, but two strong defensive saves in the cage from Monica Feeley and Mikayla Young denied UR's Courtney Dunham and Maya Haigis goals off of penalty corner blasts.
 
The Brewers then were able to strike on their first shot of the game, coming on a penalty corner in the 14th minute.  Young took the corner, slid the pass into teammate Megan Caveny who dished it back in near the left post to Young who flicked a shot past UR keeper Kate Kujawa on the blocker side.
 
Following the goal, neither team could penetrate their opponents territory for the next ten minutes of the game until Stephanie Palma sent a shot wide left at 25:45.
 
In the 29th minute, Rochester earned another penalty corner and Dunham's shot from the left wing found its way through traffic, but Brewer keeper Liz Rotolo was there for the save.
 
Two minutes later, UR's Haigis made a defensive save keeping the Yellowjackets within one, denying Caveny a goal off of a penalty crner.
 

The Brewers closed the half in a flurry, doubling the lead at the 33:50 mark when Caveny battled Kujawa in close, then chipped a shot while falling out of bounds just inside the right post.  That score came shortly after Young was stopped of her second goal of the game by a Kate Tiffany defensive save.
 
Shortly after the restart, Vassar again rushed downfield to the UR end, with Tiffany making another DS with thirty seconds remaining.
 
The Brewers then started the second half strong, earning multiple penalty corners in the opening five minutes.
 
Rochester then turned the tables, applying offensive pressure for the better part of the second half.
 
At 48:03, the Yellowjackets got on the board when Amanda Strenk tipped in Colleen Maillie shot off a penalty corner.
 
UR kept up the pressure and got the equalizer in the 54th minute.  Lauren Sharpe slid her shot into the cage following a Haigis picture-perfect cross from the left sideline to the right wing where the senior was camping out unmarked.
 
After Rochester knotted the score at two, Vassar regained momentum and the lead with a goal with just over ten minutes to play.
 
The Brewers earned a penalty corner early in the 59th minute, which led to a top of circle shot from Cristina Lopez which was kick-saved by Kujawa.  On the ensuing corner though, a Young shot from the left wing was stopped from becoming a goal by a UR foul, thus earning the Brewers a penalty stroke.
 
On the free attempt, Palma converted with a low left shot to give the Brewers the 3-2 lead.
 
The Yellowjackets attempted to answer, but Vassar was able to clamp down defensively the rest of the way, not allowing a UR shot over the final ten minutes of the contest.
 
In goal, Kujawa made two saves while Rotolo made two as well for the Brewers.  Vassar held the edge in both shots and penalty corners, leading 17-7 and 11-5 respectively.
 
UR returns to the field on Sunday as the Yellowjackets host Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Sunday afternoon at noon in Fauver Stadium.  Prior to the start, UR's six seniors will be honored with a Senior Day ceremony celebrating their dedication to the Yellowjacket field hockey program over the last four years.