CANTON, NY – The University of Rochester field hockey team picked up a key late season Liberty League victory, defeating St. Lawrence University 5-1 on Friday afternoon at SLU's Hall-Leet Stadium.
 
Sophomore Maeve Fogarty scored two goals while Jessica Unkel, Bella Militi and Anya Arseneau added single tallies, with Rochester (11-6, 4-2 Liberty League) scoring the second most goals in a game during the 2023 campaign.
 
With one game remaining in the Liberty League conference schedule, Rochester's 4-2 record has the Yellowjackets tied for third in the standings with William Smith, just one game back of league-leading Ithaca and Vassar (both 5-1). UR has clinched a spot in the conference playoffs.
 
The Yellowjackets dominated the first half of play, outshooting St. Lawrence 18-1, taking a 3-0 lead throughout the first 30 minutes.
 
Fogarty got the scoring started late in the first quarter, one-timing a sweep shot from 6 yards out on a cross from teammate Kayla Ballas. UR peppered St. Lawrence goalie Lucy Adiutori with 13 shot attempts in the first, 10 of which were saved.
 
As the clock switched to the second quarter, an early penalty corner led to the Yellowjackets doubling the lead. A Ballas insert found its way at the top of the circle to Delainey Hebble who slid a pass to the right wing for a blast from Unkel. The shot found its way through traffic in front and into the bottom left corner of the cage for her second goal of the year.
 
Just 41 seconds later, a Saints foul in the circle was ruled to have denied UR a scoring chance, resulting in a penalty stroke for the Yellowjackets. Fogarty stepped up to the spot and calmly scored her second of the game and team-leading 11th of the season.
 
Shortly after UR built the 3-0 lead, St. Lawrence (3-11, 0-6) countered and earned its first shot of the game. Lily Gubbins took the attempt from in close along the left end line, but Kara Houston was able to come off the line and make a sliding save for Rochester.
 
Shortly after the halftime break, Rochester boosted the lead to four when a great backhand pass from Fogarty on the left wing found Militi at the right post for a tap-in goal.
 
Late in the third, St. Lawrence was able to break the shutout with a goal from Mayson Blondek. A cross pass came from teammate Suzanne L'Hommedieu and Blondek swept the ball just inside the left post.
 
Arseneau completed the days scoring three and a half minutes into the fourth quarter with her fourth goal of the season. The play was set up by a strong possession from Zoe Conomikes along the right side. After weaving around the defense, Conomikes dropped the ball in front towards Militi and Arseneau, with the latter getting a stick on the ball, deflecting it into the top of the cage.
 
Trailing by four, the Saints used their best attacking of the game in an attempt to get back in the game over the final ten minutes. Houston and the Yellowjacket defense held St. Lawrence at bay though, earning the four-goal victory.
 
Houston ended up making three saves for Rochester, picking up her 12th win of the season. The sophomore keeper already ranks tied for eighth in UR team history with 20 goalkeeper wins.
 
For St. Lawrence, Adiutori finished with 15 saves in the cage.
 
Rochester ended the game with a 29-7 shot advantage and 10-3 lead in corners.
 
The Yellowjackets wrap up the conference slate on Sunday at home with a matchup against Skidmore College at 4 pm.