PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester field hockey team closed out its regular season schedule with another strong effort, shutting out visiting SUNY Geneseo 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
Rochester's record moves to 14-6 over the season, while Geneseo falls to 11-6 on the year.
 
The Yellowjacket goals were scored by first-year Grayson Honig, senior Vivianna Arnold and senior Bella Militi. In goal, Kara Houston picked up another shutout, her eighth of the season, making five saves. The clean sheet was also aided by a defensive save from senior defender Elisabeth Sidorski.
 
During the first quarter, the Knights had the first scoring chance, earning a penalty corner just 70 seconds into the game. That corner yielded two Geneseo shots, one blocked and a second that was saved away by Houston in the cage.
 
In the sixth minute, the Yellowjackets tallied their first two shots of the contest off the stick of Arnold and Anya Arseneau, but both attempts were blocked away by the Knights defense.
 
Early in quarter number two, Sidorski came up with her big defensive play, keeping Olivia Hernick off the scoreboard with a defensive save at the right post. Hernick's sweep shot from the middle of the circle evaded Houston, but we kept out of the goal by the reigning Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Later in the period, Honig notched the games opening goal, one-timing a hard cross from the right side by teammate Zoe Conomikes. The ball, which was sent from far on the right sideline was traveling at a high speed, with Honig simply holding her stick out for the deflection into the cage. It was the first-year's third goal of the year and second straight game-winner.
 
Clinging to a one-goal lead, Rochester was held without a shot in the third quarter, but maintained the lead with Houston making a pair of stops during the period.
 
As the game flipped to the fourth quarter, the momentum shifted to the Yellowjackets. Rochester returned the favor in not allowing a Geneseo shot on goal, outshooting the visitors 8-0 in the final period. Among those shots, two found the back of the cage, with Arnold scoring her first of the year and Militi scoring her eighth.
 
Arnold's goal came in the 55th minute of a hard right wing shot that deflected in off of the foot of Geneseo keeper Sarah Quinlan. Kayla Ballas picked up the assist on the play, sending a pass in from the right edge of the circle.
 
Two minutes later, Militi added a key insurance score for the Yellowjackets, taking a Delainey Hebble pass from midfield, splitting the Geneseo defense and slipping the 5-yard shot past Quinlan just inside the right post.
 
With under two minutes to play, Arnold was denied another scoring opportunity by a Geneseo defensive save in front by Hailey Roethel.
 
Overall in the game, Rochester outshot the Knights 16-12, with Geneseo holding a slim lead in corners, taking nine to UR's seven. The Knights keeper, Quinlan, ended with six saves in the cage.
 
Rochester's next contest takes place next Friday at 4 pm at William Smith College in the semifinals of the Liberty League conference tournament.