PITTSFORD, NY – The University of Rochester field hockey team posted its third straight shutout, and seventh of the season, in defeating host St. John Fisher University 2-0 on Wednesday evening at Growney Stadium.
 
24th-ranked Rochester improved to 9-1 with the win, while the Cardinals fall to 3-3 on the season.
 
The Yellowjackets scored goals late in each half, with sophomores Kristina Fedorova and Kyla Byer finding the cage. Goalkeeper Kara Houston was credited with six saves in the shutout, extending her Rochester all-time record in that category, pushing her total to 24 solo clean sheets.
 
St. John Fisher had the first good scoring chance of the contest in the games sixth minute. After a long hit in from the right side, Avery McLaughlin settled the ball and took a tough angle shot that was saved by a diving Houston.
 
Rochester's first shot attempt of the game came a minute later off the stick of Sophia Marcotte, but that backhand chance from the edge of the circle was blocked by the Cardinal defense.
 
Late in the opening quarter, the Cardinals earned a corner and three shots on cage, but Houston was able to make three additional saves to keep the game scoreless. The final stop was a point-blank chance in front by McLaughlin following a rebound.
 
URochester defended away three straight penalty corners by the Cardinals early in the second quarter, and ended up yielding only one shot attempt, which missed wide, over the 15 minutes.
 
Conversely, the Yellowjackets only took two shots in the second, but one found the back of the net in the 26th minute. On that play, a hard-charging Emilia Parrado sprinted to the end line to the right of the cage and sent a centering pass towards the goal mouth. Her pass was deflected by goalkeeper Morgan Parinello and the ball sat on the goal line where Fedorova was able to secure the tap-in goal.
 
A scoreless third quarter for both sides featured Rochester taking a game-high five shots while also earning four corners, but Parrinello made three saves to keep the Cardinals within striking distance.
 
Rochester dominated the fourth quarter, not surrendering a shot to the Cardinals.
 
The Yellowjackets got a key insurance goal on a penalty corner strike from Byer at the 56:03 mark. After receiving the insert pass from Sophia Cuneo, Byer settled and took an edge of circle shot which caught the inside leg pad of Parrinello and went sailing into the cage. The score was Byer's first career goal.
 
UR now has won four straight games since falling in a penalty shootout to Hamilton on September 10, but will next face its toughest challenge of the season, hitting the road for a matchup at #8 Tufts University on Saturday afternoon.