HOUGHTON, NY – A pair of second half goals lifted the 12th-ranked University of Rochester field hockey team to its third straight win to start the year, defeating Houghton College 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Burke Field.
 
The Yellowjackets (3-0), got goals from sophomore Kira Ozer early in the second half and then scored in the waning minutes off the stick of Emma Schlechter to reach the final margin.
 
Kate Kujawa made one save in picking up the shutout win for Rochester.
 
UR held a big advantage on the stat sheet, combining to outshoot the Highlanders (2-2) 27-3, including 13-1 on goal.  UR also took 14 penalty corners to just two for Houghton.
 
Rochester was held off the board in the first half though, thanks to a solid effort from Highlander keeper Sarah Olandt who made seven saves in the period and ended with 11 for the game.
 
Early in the second half, Ozer found the cage in the 37th minute, tapping in a pass from Schlechter for the 1-0 UR lead.  Schlechter started the play charging down to the baseline, beating two defenders before centering the ball to Ozer cutting to the goal for a one-timer shot.
 
Rochester kept applying the pressure, but couldn't break through with an insurance goal.  UR's Maya Haigis led all players with seven shots, while Courtney Dunham and Amanda Strenk each took four in the game.
 
Houghton's best chances of the game came in the around the 52 minute mark when it earned two PC's and took two of their three shots, one which was saved away by Kujawa.
 
UR finally added a key insurance goal with just over three minutes to play when Schlechter scored off an assist from teammate Nancy Bansbach. Schlechter was able to control Bansbach's shot from the edge of the circle and chip a backhand into the cage. It was the juniors first goal of the season and third of her career.

Rochester is right back in action on Sunday for its home opener against Utica College starting at 2 pm in Fauver Stadium.