SCHENECTADY, NY – The University of Rochester field hockey team clinched the regular season crown in the Liberty League on Sunday, defeating Union College 3-0at Frank Bailey Field.
 
Rochester finished the conference season with a 6-1 record, sharing the top record in the league with Ithaca, who also finished 6-1, but the Yellowjackets secured the top seed by virtue of Friday nights 1-0, double-overtime victory over the Bombers. Rochester is 13-4 overall with two games remaining in the regular season.
 
Union drops to 10-5 overall and 2-5 in conference play following the loss.
 
Zoe Conomikes had a hand in all three goals on Sunday, recording two goals and assist. Nikki Mercer scored the opening goal, earning her sixth game-winner of the season. In goal, Kara Houston picked up her second straight shutout, making five saves in the win.
 
In the opening quarter, Houston was tested with the first shot on goal in the contest, making the save on Sophie Ruhl just 2:06 in. That shot would be Union's lone shot attempt of the half, with Rochester outshooting the Dutchwomen 11-1 over the opening 30 minutes.
 
Rochester flipped the field afterwards and maintained possession in the Union end for most of the remaining 13 minutes in the quarter.
 
Union keeper Sophie Brady made back-to-back saves on Karina Bridger in the fifth minute and added another save less than a minute later, denying Mercer.
 

In the closing minute of the first, UR got on the board on a penalty corner. After the insert pass went up top to Bridger, a swing pass came over to Conomikes on the left wing who sent the ball towards the net where Mercer was camped in front. The fifth-year senior gained possession, turned around and slipped her shot past Brady in goal for her team leading 13th score of the year.
 
During the second quarter, Rochester again had the run of play, but the Union defense withstood pressure for most of the period. Brady turned away a pair of shots and Isabel Lubin made a defensive save, denying Conomikes a goal in the 18th minute.

Conomikes did get her goal later in the quarter though, ripping a hard backhand shot from the left wing at the 26:15 mark, boosting UR's lead to 2-0, a score which would hold heading into halftime.
 
Two minutes into the third quarter, the Dutchwomen earned their first corner of the game, but nothing came of it, as the Yellowjacket defense hustled out from the end line to block a shot from Eliza Munns.
 
In the transition to the other end, Rochester's Conomikes settled an aerial pass and moved into open space in the circle, but fired her shot just wide, keeping the lead at 2-0.
 
In the 42nd minute, Conomikes notched her second tally of the game, blasting another hard shot from the left wing into the cage for her sixth of the year. The penalty corner insert came from Mara Heppard to Delainey Hebble who pushed the pass across the top of the circle to an open Conomikes.
 
During the first four minutes of the fourth, neither team was able to escape the midfield, as Rochester turned up the defensive pressure.
 
Union earned a corner and a pair of shots in the 50th minute, but Houston was there for back-to-back kick saves, denying Grace Krebs and Ruhl.
 
The Dutchwomen continued to look for its first score of the game a couple minutes later, but a shot in close on the right side from Emily Dawson was again turned away by Houston. A follow up attempt from Krebs sailed wide.
 
Rochester was content with the lead and focused its efforts defensively over the final 15 minutes, not earning a shot attempt, but was able to preserve the shutout, its seventh of the 2022 season.
 
By virtue of earning the Liberty League's top seed, the Yellowjackets will be home throughout their run during the conference playoffs set for early November. UR will play the winner of the opening round 4th-5th seed matchup on Friday, November 4th. The conference finals, should UR make it that far are scheduled for Sunday, November 6th.