POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – The University of Rochester lacrosse team embarked on a nearly flawless second quarter leading to a 10-7 Liberty League victory on Friday afternoon at Wienberg Turf Field.
 
Rochester's second quarter featured the Yellowjackets outscoring Vassar 5-0 while committing just two turnovers while going 7-for-7 on clear attempts. The Brewers meanwhile, were stopped by Ava Saffren on their three shots on goal during the period, allowing Rochester to turn a 4-1 deficit into a 6-4 lead.
 
In the opening quarter, the Yellowjackets (5-4, 2-2 Liberty League) scored just one minute into the game to open the scoring. Gracie Giannettino found the back of the net off a feed from Alyssa Gorny.
 
The rest of the quarter went in favor of Vassar (1-8, 0-4 Liberty League), with the Brewers scoring four straight to grab a three-goal lead. Tess Billings notched a goal for Vassar with just three seconds left in the first period to put the Brewers in front 4-1.
 
As play shifted to the second quarter, Giannettino and Lorelei King each scored less than three minutes into the period to cut into the Vassar lead.
 
Playing a player down, Rochester evened the score when Giannettino found a cutting King in front for the 4-4 tie. Later in the quarter, Gorny scored the go-ahead goal off a pass from Emily Schillinger.
 
With 90 seconds left before halftime, Giannettino scored a hat trick to pull Rochester ahead by two.
 
Rochester's scoring streak extended into the third quarter, as Grace Crochiere and Anna Rogers scored for the Yellowjackets to make the score 8-4. Crochiere's goal was her ninth of the season, while Rogers scored off a pass from Giannettino with UR having a player-up advantage.
 
Vassar scored the next two goals in the game less than a minute apart, staying within striking distance, but Gorny notched her team-leading 23rd goal of the season for Rochester to boost the lead back up to three.
 
Billings again scored in the final minute of a quarter, finding the net with 40 seconds left in the third quarter, sending the teams into the fourth quarter separated just by two, with Rochester up 9-7.
 
The fourth period was a defensive battle with only Giannettino adding to the scoring column, scoring at the 13:35 mark. UR again benefitted from a carded Vassar player, with Schillinger providing the assist on the player-up tally.
 
Giannettino finished as the games leading scorer with six points, coming on four goals and two assists. Gorny scored three points on two goals and one assist, while Schillinger finished with three helpers.
 
On defense, Campbell Sy and Jenna Ufberg combined to cause eight of UR's 15 caused turnovers in the game. Erin Esposito added two caused turnovers, while Ufberg led UR with four draw controls.
 
Saffren finished with eight saves in the victory, playing all 60 minutes in goal.
 
For Vassar, Siena Wong led the Brewers with three points (2 G, 1 A), while Natalie Daigle and Billings each finished with two goals. In goal, Lauren Johns made ten saves.
 
Rochester completes its two-match conference weekend with a matchup on Saturday against Bard College, starting at 1 pm.