The University of Rochester assembled one of its strongest efforts of the season – particularly defensively – and it paid off with a handsome conference victory on Saturday afternoon at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
Rochester produced a 2-0 win over Ithaca College. It boosted the UR record to 10-0 overall, 2-0 in the Liberty League. Ithaca lost its second in a row. The Bombers are 7-3 overall, 1-1 in the Liberty League.
 
The UR defense was superb, led by Kate Tiffany. The three backline players – Tiffany, Courtney Dunham, and Miranda Lakis – were organized and constantly kept balls out of the scoring area.  Ithaca mustered one shot on goal and two shots overall. The SOG was saved by Dunham, well positioned on the line to sweep it clear after a shot by Maddy Ryan.

For the first seven minutes, Ithaca applied the offensive pressure with Ryan in the middle of most of it. But as the half continued, Rochester began to position itself well to launch a constant stream of attackers into the Ithaca defensive half.
 
Maya Haigis struck a long ball up the center of the field for Leona Fisher in the middle of the circle, but she couldn't get the stick down to test IC's Savanna Lenker (seven saves). They hooked up again seconds later with Haigis centering from the left slit but Fisher's tap-in try was blocked wide left. Amanda Strenk hit a backhander six yards out from left wing that forced Lenker to save at the near post.
 
Haigis had another offensive foray with 13 minutes left. She fought for possession along the left endline and skimmed it across the face of goal with two teammates running to the center. It got past everyone.
 
Tiffany played a role in both Rochester goals – indirectly. With less than seven minutes left in the first half, Rochester earned a penalty corner. Tiffany played it to Dunham. Her shot was blocked and Nancy Bansbach got to it first. She maneuvered in the circle and when Lenker came off the line to challenge, was able to guide it under the goalie and into the left side of the net.
 
In the second half, the Yellowjackets held off Ithaca's challenges and before the half was 10 minutes old, the lead grew to 2-0. It was Bansbach again, started by a Tiffany penalty corner. Tiffan struck the ball to Colleen Maillie at the top of the circle. Her straight-on liner was redirected inside the right corner of the goal by Bansbach
 
UR goalie Kate Kujawa kept the sheets clean with a quick reaction in the 55^th minute. A long ball down the right slot gave Ithaca possession and position for a counterattack. The ball was crossed into the center of the goalmouth but Kujawa was there to kick it away, forcing the Bombers to reorganize.
 
Tiffany helped preserve the shutout in the last nine minutes when she tipped the ball away from the front of Kujawa's goal after an ill-positioned clearance gave Ithaca a chance to cut the deficit in half.
 
Rochester hosts St. John Fisher on Wednesday at 5 pm, then continues its Liberty League schedule with a match at Union College on Saturday. Fisher defeated Ithaca, 1-0, this past Wednesday. Ithaca opens a three-game homestand on Thursday. The Bombers play Nazareth on Thursday, William Smith on Saturday, and Vassar on October 12.