ITHACA, NY – In a defensive battle, University of Rochester field hockey fell to the Ithaca College Bombers in overtime, 1-0, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Higgins Stadium.
 
Over 60+ minutes, the two sides would combine for just 14 shots and eight on goal. The first quarter would see just one shot, as off a penalty corner, Ithaca's Meara Bury would send one at Kara Houston, but the sophomore made the save to keep things scoreless.
 
UR got its offense going in the second, and would nearly take the lead just over five minutes in. After a penalty corner taken by Maeve Fogarty, Grayson Honig crossed the ball back into the scoring zone for Bella Militi, who nearly tapped it into the back of the net. But Ithaca's Nicole Fortunato came up with the defensive save, keeping Militi's shot just out of the goal to keep things scoreless.
 
The 'Jackets would tally three more shots and two more penalty corners in the period, all three from Zoe Conomikes, who sent a pair high, while another was blocked.
 
Scoreless at the half, Natalie Descalso would get things going for the Bombers in the third, firing the first shot of the quarter at Houston, but the sophomore goalie made her second of the afternoon.
 
The Bombers would then pick up a penalty corner with just over two minutes left, and Descalso again fired a shot on goal. This one caromed high, but Elisabeth Sidorski came up with the defensive save, reaching her stick high to keep the ball out of goal and the two sides deadlocked at 0-0.
 
The defensive save set up another Ithaca penalty corner, but again, UR kept the Bombers from scoring, blocking Emma Garver's shot before the third-quarter buzzer sounded less than a few minutes later.
 
In the fourth, the Yellowjackets earned a penalty corner just 30 seconds in, but Alex Clough saved Jessica Unkel's blast. While in the 54th minute, Kayla Ballas' shot went wide.
 
On the other end, Ithaca earned a late penalty corner after Sarah DeVito's shot was saved. And in the final minute, Descalso nearly came up with the game-winner for Ithaca, but again, Houston made the save, and the two sides headed to overtime.
 
Just a minute and a half into OT though, Ithaca would find the game-winner, as Avery Moses deflected a short cross from Bury into the back of the net to give Ithaca the win.
 
UR falls to 10-6 (3-2 LL) with the loss, while the Bombers remain atop the Liberty League with the win at 11-4 (4-1 LL) on the year.
 
Individually, Conomikes led Rochester with three shots, while Militi and Unkel each put one on goal. Houston played at 61+ minutes in goal, making four saves.
 
The Yellowjackets now return home to Edwin Fauver Stadium to host SUNY Brockport on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m.