PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester field hockey team closed out its Liberty League conference schedule with a strong win over Skidmore College, winning 4-0 on Sunday afternoon at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
UR's victory closes out a perfect three-game week on the pitch, with two of those wins coming against Liberty League foes. Rochester (13-6, 5-2 Liberty League), also posted a 5-1 win on Friday evening at St. Lawrence University.
 
By virtue of tiebreakers, the Yellowjackets secured the 3rd-seed in the conference playoffs and will square off with 2nd-seed William Smith on Friday, November 3.
 
Rochester's goals on Sunday were scored by Maeve Fogarty, along with Grayson Honig and Delainey Hebble. Fogarty tallied twice, boosting her league-leading total to 13 on the season. Zoe Conomikes and Sofia LaFalce notched assists on the scoresheet, while Kara Houston made three saves in the shutout victory.
 
The first quarter saw the Yellowjackets dominate possession and outshoot the Thoroughbreds (7-9, 2-5 Liberty League) 10-0, but the teams ended scoreless after the opening 15 minutes.
 
Fogarty had three straight chances in the sixth minute, but her first two attempts were saved by Skidmore's Victoria Bodnar, with a third shot deflecting high.
 

The Thoroughbreds first shot attempt of the game was a solid chance in close off a penalty corner by Gianna DiGioacchino. After receiving a pass from the edge of the circle, DiGioacchino lifted a ball from six yards out, but Houston reacted and swatted the shot away with her blocker.
 
Honig followed shortly by opening the scoring less than a minute after subbing into the game in the 24th minute. Her score was a one-timer into the low left corner of the net after Conomikes evaded defenders along the right end line and sent a terrific pass in front. The tally was Honig's second of the season and is the first-year's first game-winning goal.
 
It was more offensive pressure for the Yellowjackets in the third quarter, tallying 11 of the teams 34 shot attempts, but Bodnar and the Skidmore defense held strong, keeping it a one-goal game heading into the fourth quarter.
 
In the 43rd minute, Conomikes and Hebble each blasted a shot from the left wing off a 'Jackets penalty corner, but Bodnar was able to get a clean look at both attempts, kicking them away to safety.
 
Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Hebble had a sweep shot off a penalty corner saved off the line by Skidmore's Brooke Golden for a defensive save.
 
Following the ensuing corner, UR got a key insurance tally on a penalty stroke goal from Fogarty. The sophomore earned the chance after a Jessica Unkel corner blast hit a Skidmore defender's foot along the goal line.
 
Hebble boosted the lead to 3-0 on a terrific individual effort at 54:29. After intercepting a Skidmore pass near midfield, she dribbled around two defenders and traversed 15 yards to the circle, ultimately ripping a blast from the edge of the circle just inside the left post.
 
With less than two minutes left in the game, Fogarty capped off the scoring with her second goal of the game. After a corner, the ball swung around to the right side to Vivianna Arnold who took a hard shot towards the center circle. There, LaFalce settled the ball in traffic and saw her teammate Fogarty poke it through a pair of defenders and just past the outstretched legs of reserve goalie Nichole Sylvestri.
 
The Yellowjackets now have one game remaining left in the regular season, as Rochester is set to host SUNY Geneseo next Saturday at 12 pm in Fauver Stadium.