POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Sixty minutes wasn't enough to decide a winner between two of the top teams in the Liberty League, as host Vassar College edged the University of Rochester field hockey team on Friday afternoon, winning 2-1 in a shootout.
 
The loss dropped Rochester to 10-4 on the season and moves UR's conference record to 3-1. Vassar improves to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
 
Rochester's defense was excellent in the first half, holding the Brewers without a shot or penalty corner. UR was unable to grab the lead though, as the Yellowjackets on generated five attempts.
 
In the 25th minute, the Yellowjackets were awarded a penalty stroke after a violation in the circle by Vassar's defense. Karina Bridger stepped up to the spot and took the shot, but Brewer keeper Sarah Dumaresq stood tall and made the pad save, keeping the game scoreless.
 
Both teams scored their regulation goals in the third quarter. Rochester's came on a penalty corner in the 43rd minute. Mara Heppard inserted a short pass to the left wing where Zoe Conomikes blasted a wide-open shot towards the cage. The ball deflected in off a Vassar defender in front, giving Rochester a 1-0 lead.
 
The advantage didn't last long though, as Vassar responded just over a minute later. The Brewers goal was scored by Gianna Trunfio who gathered a loose ball off a long hit into the circle from Hailey Brigger. Trunfio, in traffic chipped the ball just past the Yellowjacket defense and goalkeeper Kara Houston for the equalizer.
 
In the fourth, Houston made one of her three saves early on, denying Maggie Werner in the 50th minute.
 
Rochester earned a pair of penalty corners two minutes later, but the Brewer defense thwarted the opportunities and held Rochester without on each one.
 
In the final minute, the Yellowjackets were still applying pressure and had shots from Conomikes and Nikki Mercer which were saved. Another penalty corner was earned and Conomikes took a shot that made it through the defense but slipped just wide of the right post.
 
Both overtimes were defensive stalemates. In the first OT, Vassar had the lone shot, off the stick of Trunfio which was saved. Rochester earned a corner in the 70th minute, but no shot came of it.
 
The second overtime was all Rochester, as UR dominated possession and had all four shots and four of the five corners, but again the teams were scoreless, heading into the tiebreaking shootout.
 
In the best of five shootout, Vassar shot first, with Trunfio missing on the Brewers first attempt. Rochester's Mercer gave the Yellowjackets the lead, but Brigger evened up the score after two rounds with a goal followed by a miss from Lesley Leatherman.
 
Both Kate Neikirk and Maeve Fogarty scored on the next attempts and the score was 2-2 after three rounds. Vassar kept its streak going with a goal from Leilani Llamas to edge ahead. After two straight misses by Rochester in the next two rounds, the Brewers earned the victory.
 
Overall in the game, Rochester led 14-8 in shots and 11-4 in corners. Both keepers made three saves.
 
The Yellowjackets return home for a 5 pm matchup against Rensselaer on Sunday afternoon at Fauver Stadium.