SCHENECTADY, NY – The University of Rochester field hockey team remained unbeaten on the season, defeating Union College 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field.
 
UR (12-0, 3-0 Liberty League), earned its eighth shutout of the year and now has the single-season best start in school history with its 12th win to being the year.  The loss drops the Dutchwomen to 3-7 and 0-3 in the conference.
 
Rochester handled much of the play in the first half, holding a 13-2 edge in shots, only to see the score tied 0-0 at the break, with neither team being able to muster a goal.  Union did have a spurt midway through the period though, earning three corners, but the Yellowjacket defense was able to fend them off each time.
 
In the second half, Rochester was able to get on the board in the 45th minute.  UR started a fast break from midfield with Maya Haigis who slipped a pass up the left side to teammate Nancy Bansbach who took a hard shot at the goal from the left wing.  There in front was Emma Schlechter who tipped in the attempt for her sixth goal of the season.
 

A few minutes later, the Yellowjackets' Courtney Dunham ripped a goal off a penalty corner, only to see it disallowed after being deemed a dangerous shot.
 
At 49:16, Dunham safely found the back of the cage this time, taking a nearly identical shot, a hard blast from the right wing, for a 2-0 Rochester lead.  Kate Tiffany picked up the assist being the penalty corner inserter.
 
Union mounted a charge in the 58th minute, when after a penalty corner, Alexa Puleio got off a shot in close from the left side, but Kate Kujawa was there to block it away, making one of her three saves on the day.
 
A follow up occurred after the rebound was passed over to the right post, clearing Kujawa, but Laura Wind's shot was cleared off the line by a heads up Tiffany for a defensive save.
 
For the game, UR dominated in shots (21-4) and corners (12-4).  Union goalkeeper Heather Poisson made seven saves while Amanda Strenk led the Yellowjackets with six shot attempts.  Haigis had all three of her shots on target.
 
UR remains in a first place tie in the Liberty League standings with Vassar College, as both nationally ranked teams are 3-0 in conference.  Rochester returns to action next Friday at Skidmore College looking to remain unbeaten.