PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – University of Rochester field hockey posted its second-straight clean sheet to begin the year, shutting out the Denison University Big Red, 4-0, in their home opener on Sunday at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
The Yellowjacket defense held the Big Red to just one shot and two penalty corners, while Zoe Conomikes and Maeve Fogarty combined for all four Rochester goals to give UR the victory.
 
Early shots by Conomikes and Fogarty were blocked and went wide, as the Big Red's defense held firm early on in the opening quarter.
 
Conomikes forced Athena Joannou to make her first of six saves with just under six minutes to play in the first before the 'Jackets earned their first penalty corner with 3:11 left in the first.
 
Then in the 15th minute, Rochester broke through, as Fogarty found Conomikes for a tip-in off a left-wing cross, giving the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead as time expired in the first.
 
Six minutes into the second quarter, Delainey Hebble nearly made it 2-0, as her shot off a penalty corner caromed off the post, while Grayson Honig's follow-up was saved by Joannou.
 
Vivianna Arnold would force another save with a shot in the 24th minute before the 'Jackets sent three more at the net in the final minute. But Joannou made another save on Arnold's opener, while Hebble's shot went wide, and Arseneau's was blocked as time expired, and UR headed into the halftime break up 1-0.
 
Seven minutes into the third though, Fogarty found the back of the net herself with a 38th-minute, unassisted score, doubling UR's lead to 2-0 as the sophomore put it past the goalie from six yards out.
 
And just under three minutes later, Fogarty scored again, this time a blast from about four yards out to the low left, her second goal of the game and third of the season to give Rochester a 3-0 lead.
 
Denison would pick up its first shot and penalty corner as time expired in the third, but Tabitha Chandler's shot was blocked, and Rochester's defense kept the Big Red from getting another shot the rest of the way.
 
Conomikes would add another unassisted score in the 59th minute, whipping a bouncer from 11 yards out to make it a 4-0 lead before the final horn sounded.
 
With the win, Rochester moves to 2-0 on the year, while Denison falls to 0-2.
 
Offensively, Fogarty led UR with six shots, while Conomikes tallied five. Each scored a pair of goals, with Fogarty assisting on Conomikes' first.
 
Defensively, Kara Houston picked up the win, facing just one shot, which was blocked, and played all 60 minutes in goal.
 
Rochester next continues its stretch of six straight at home with a matchup against SUNY Cortland on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Edwin Fauver Stadium.