CLINTON, NY – The University of Rochester field hockey team continued its perfect start to the season, defeating SUNY New Paltz 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at Hamilton College's Goodfriend Field.
 
The Yellowjackets move to 9-0 on the season, while New Paltz drops back to .500, sitting at 4-4 on the year.
 
Rochester's first scoring chances came from Emma Schlechter in the 13th minute, but both of her shots from inside five yards were saved away by New Paltz keeper Ryan Dowling.
 
UR was able to convert on the ensuing corner though, with Courtney Dunham slipping a shot just inside the right post from 10 yards out 13:08 in.  Colleen Maillie received the corner at the top of the circle and sent the pass into Dunham who found the cage for the second time this season.
 
The Yellowjackets then struck again on a corner five minutes later.  Just before the 19 minute mark, Nancy Bansbach notched her team leading 10th goal of the season, chipping a backhand shot at the right post into the cage.  Bansbach started the corner, sending the ball in to first-year Amanda Strenk who sent the ball in to Amanda Guido who deflected the ball to the right post where the UR senior was camped out and converted for the goal.
 

New Paltz counted a minute later, earning a penalty corner of their own, but Kaitlyn Gunter's shot from the left wing was saved by Kate Kujawa in the UR goal.
 
At 27:47, Rochester's Jennifer Lee had an excellent chance off a pass from Strenk in front of the Hawk goal.  Lee, who had her back to the goal, received the pass six yards out and spun quick, sent her shot wide right of the cage.
 
Late in the half, New Paltz would get its goal on a penalty stroke from Jessica Ascencao.  Ascencao got the opportunity for the free stroke when Kujawa covered up and did not attempt to clear a shot from the Hawks' Gunter.
 
Nine minutes into the second half, UR nearly made it 3-1 off a penalty corner shot from Strenk, but her blast from the right wing was ruled dangerous and did not count.  The missed opportunity did lead to a flurry of Yellowjacket chances right after.
 
Bansbach would notch her second of the game in the 53rd minute to boost UR's lead to two goals.  Dunham lifted a long aerial pass down the left side, leading Bansbach perfectly for a breakaway chance which she converted, sneaking the ball inside the right post.
 
UR kept pouring it on offensively with chances in the circle.  Guido and Jennifer Lee had excellent point blank opportunities back-to-back in the 57th minute.
 
Strenk then was able to convert at 57:35, getting back her disallowed goal, recording her sixth goal of the season to give UR a 4-1 edge.  After a corner, the first-year player made an excellent zig-zag move to find space and shoot left, finding the cage.
 
Rochester's defense in the second half was nearly impeccable, now allowing a New Paltz shot for the first 34 minutes.  The only Hawk chances in the final period came in the last 75 seconds.  Rachel Beam had a point blank chance saved by Kujawa with a minute to go, and on the following corner, Samantha Ackerman saw a tip shot sail wide.
 
For the game, the Yellowjackets had a 25-7 edge in shots and 11-3 advantage in corners.  Kujawa picked up the win making three saves for UR, while Dowling stopped 14 chances in the New Paltz cage.
 
Rochester's next test is a Liberty League contest at home against Ithaca College set for Saturday September 29th at 12 pm.  New Paltz returns to action on Saturday as well with a SUNYAC matchup against Morrisville State.