SCHENECTADY, NY – After two over time periods and a penalty shootout, the University of Rochester field hockey team defeated the Union College Garnet Chargers 2-1 in the Liberty League Tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field.

The Yellowjackets (17-3) got off to a fast start with shots from Zoe Conomikes, Grayson Honig and Mara Heppard in the first three minutes of play. Union keeper Sophie Brady was there for the early saves.

Union (14-6) managed a penalty corner at the 5-minute mark but came out without a goal.

To start the second quarter, Union came out firing with three shots of their own but two saves from Kara Houston kept the Garnet Chargers searching for answers.

With two minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter, Union took the lead after a goal from Maddie Greco, her league-leading 20th tally of the season.

With their season on the line, Rochester had to muster up something on the offensive end and they soon were able to. After back-to-back penalty corners, Jodie Zeng took UR's first shot attempt since the middle of the 2nd quarter. A rebound attempt by Hannah Mehta was cleared off the line by Aislin Devaney for a Union defensive save, keeping the Garnet Chargers in front.

The momentum continued for the 'Jackets on the ensuing penalty corner. After Conomikes sent in a blast from the corner of the box, the ball was deflected in by Mehta to tie up the game.

Both sides traded possession for the rest of the quarter to send the game into overtime.

The Yellowjackets controlled most of the play in a tough overtime battle, taking 12 shots in overtime compared to Union's four over the extra 20 minutes, but the score remained 1-1 sending the contest to a tie-breaking shootout.

The first shot for Rochester was missed by Heppard, with that being followed by a Union goal by Greco to set the shootout score at 1-0 Union.

Conomikes made Rochester's second shootout attempt to even up the score and Union missed their second penalty to knot the score at 1-1.

Sophia Cuneo had a successful third penalty to push the shootout score to 2-1 and a missed shot from Union kept the Yellowjackets in front. 

Mehta scored on her attempt next for Rochester, and a miss from Union widened the margin to 3-1 Yellowjackets. But Union's Suzanna Wright answered right back,triming the shootout lead back to one.

UR's fifth shooter was Abigal Mateer who had the opportunity to send Rochester to the championship round. Mateer knocked in the final attempt to put the shootout out of reach, sitting up two points with only one Union shooter remaining.

Overall in the game, UR led Union in shots (21-12) and shots on goal (13-9). Rochester also managed 15 penalty corners compared to Union's six.

Rochester's goalie, Houston, tallied eight saves on the day. Brady made 11 stops for the Garnet Chargers.

The Yellowjackets will travel to Ithaca to compete in the Liberty League Championship on November 10 at 1:00pm.